HISTORY WHO, WHAT, WHERE

The story of Hof ter Musschen

Hof ter Musschen has a rich history. Once owned by Prince de Ligne during the French regime, the estate passed into the hands of Count d’Oultremont in 1836. Later, in 1896, it became the property of the Du Pré-Evenepoel couple. Suzanne Du Pré had the stables built, adding a first modern touch to the Hof.

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After her passing, her daughter Henriette inherited the domain. She was married to notary Adhémar Morren, who served the King. Their son Edmond became the new owner in 1943.

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Twenty years later, in 1963, Edmond began a new chapter by selling the estate to the Archdiocese of Mechelen-Brussels, under the condition that the residents – Jules, Rosalia, and Florent Draeck – could live there for the rest of their lives. The estate was then exchanged with the municipality of Sint-Lambrechts-Woluwe. Until 1979, it remained a vibrant farm known for its Brabant draft horses.

In 1988, Hof ter Musschen was officially recognized as a protected heritage site. Two years later, the municipality signed a 40-year lease with NV SABENA, in exchange for a complete restoration of the estate. The works began in 1993, and by 1994, the farmhouse had regained its former glory. SABENA established its social headquarters there, and the Hof became a proud landmark of the municipality.

After SABENA’s bankruptcy in 2001, the future of the estate was uncertain. But in 2006, NV Hof ter Musschen took over the lease — allowing this historical gem to live on, firmly rooted in the heart of Sint-Lambrechts-Woluwe.