Houthalen Abbey Farm

The Houthalen Abbey Farm has its roots in the 12th or 13th century. Baron Moreau De Bellaing removed the west wing in 1851. This new, open character made passers-by curious! In 1954 the domain came into the hands of the municipality. About 15 years later it became a restaurant.

The name Kelchterhoef is a combination of Calechtre and hova, meaning an agricultural operation around a farm or extraction. The farm already existed when the young Count Arnold IV van Loon donated land and marsh, where a forest called Calechtre used to be located, to the Norbertines of Floreffe, who already operated Hengelhoef there, in 1228, in return for an annual tax. The court of Hengelo was expanded with what would later become Kelchterhoef. From there it became the 'Abdijhoeve'. In 1850, Baron Moreau de Bellaing from Antwerp became the new owner. He carried out renovation work in 1851 and gave the abbey farm its current shape. Presumably the west wing of the initially closed complex then disappeared.

Beautifully restored left side of the abbey farm!