Ooidonk Castle is the residence of the current Count t'Kint de Roodenbeke. A fortress was first built on the site of the present castle in 1230, intended to defend the city of Ghent and to fortify the river Leie. This fortress was owned by Nikolaas van Hoendunc, lord of Nevele.
After it was destroyed by Louis de Male, count of Flanders, Jean de Fosseux rebuilt and enlarged the fortress from 1381 onwards, adding moats, so that the castle could only be reached by drawbridge, and strengthening the defences with four towers.
In the 15th century the castle came into the possession of the well-known French noble family of Montmorency, when Jeanne de Fosseux married Jean de Montmorency.
In 1526 Philippe II de Montmorency-Nivelle, the well-known rebel, son of Joseph de Montmorency, Seigneur de Nivelle (died 1530) and of Anna of Egmond, was probably born at Ooidonk Castle. After the death of his father, his mother married Count Jan van Hoorn, who adopted her children. Philippe thus became known as Count Hoorn. He opposed the Spanish rule in the Netherlands and was finally decapitated in 1568 in Brussels.
In the turmoil of religious wars the castle was destroyed twice, in 1491 and in 1579. After the fire of 1579 it was rebuilt again, and this building survives as the present castle.
References:Kakesbeck is one of the largest medieval fortifications in Münsterland and the oldest castle in Lüdinghausen. The imposingly grown complex originated in 1120 as a motte, a small hilltop tower castle. After numerous changes of ownership, the castle was extended onto two islands, but it was not until the 14th century that it underwent significant alterations and extensions under the von Oer family. The estate experienced its heyday in the middle of the 18th century, when it covered an area of almost one square kilometre and consisted of five further outer castles in addition to the core castle, which were secured by ramparts and moats.
The well-maintained condition of the castle today is thanks to the late Wilfried Grewing, the former lord of the castle. The foundation named after him has been particularly committed to preserving the property since 2020.