« So nice to be able to do this together with dad »: Henri (85) and daughter Linda (60) make selfies for castles (Aartselaar)
“If they ask if I am family of you-know-wellI answer 'yes'. We will be family somewhere from a long way, « Henri Courtois jokes when we visit him five high in his service flat in Hoboken. From his window he can see from the Gravenhof castle, especially if it is beautifully lit in the evening. Daughter Linda (60) lives in Aartselaar. She launched the call.
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Since the death of her mother, Louisa Aerenhouts, she saw her dad slip away. « Mama turned 81. On March 23, last year, she died, after a long illness. Dad did not like to go anywhere anyway. Doing terraces or trips are not for him. Because of Mama's illness it got even worse. He was also occasionally confused. After her death we were looking for something to do together. By getting a goal to get somewhere.”
« We sometimes pull weird faces, that is because of the sun, » laughs Linda. – © Nattida-Jayne Kanyachalao
For the time being, Linda can only leave home for four hours, through an old needy dog. Henri cannot step due to back problems and must always be at home at 5 pm if they deliver his hot meal. The castles are preferably in the immediate vicinity. « For example, there are 23 castles in Kapellen, » says Henri. « But that is already a bit risky. We have to cross the ring of Antwerp. It always remains to be seen whether we get back on time with the traffic jams. »
Linda and her dad Henri for Castle Solhof in Aartselaar, now a hotel. – © RR
The fascination for castles started earlier. Henri was a stamp collector and specialized in various themes. Castles was one of those themes. « Perhaps it is because he used to cross the whole of Belgium with the truck? » Linda thinks. « Dad drove with a tank truck. In Wallonia he undoubtedly saw many castles. When my parents moved to this service flat, Daddy had to leave a lot of his stamp collection due to a lack of space. » « But I still have my castle stamp book, » Henri is right. He knows how to pop it up immediately. It is impressive how much in it, from all countries. « I used to go to fairs a lot, but in the coronation that all stopped. »
Henri used to collect stamps from castles. – © KMA
While Louisa was still alive, Henri had already started the meticulous minutes of all castles in the region and the addresses. He does not have computer or internet. He does it in a traditional way, like a monk, in clean.
The source of information for Henri, while Linda appealed on Facebook, which goes more smoothly. – © KMA
« Dad uses the Streatenatlas Flanders as a source, » shows Linda. « On those street plans, the castles are often indicated with an icon, a turret.
The notes that Henri makes on the basis of the Statenatlas of Flanders. Really monk work. – © KMA
When Linda saw her dad's notes, she suggested visualizing those castles. On May 10, last year, Louisa had not died for long, they did their first castle: Buerstede in Aartselaar. Then it went to the Solhof and Wolffaertshof in Aartselaar. In Edegem they did Hof ter Linden and the Arendsnest.
For Hof ter Linden in Edegem, granddaughter Sara also came along. – © RR
« We often draw crazy basin on those selfies, » laughs Linda. « Because the sun is shining in our face. If the day is coming that Dad is no longer there, I would like to continue this with my twin daughters Sara (28) and Iris (28). Also for my grandchildren, if they ever come, this book will be a beautiful memory. I print all the photos and put a text with the history of the castle. It is also my daughter to do this with my daughter.”
At the Arendsnest Inedegem. – © RR
Only at the Arendsnest Castle in Edegem did they have no good view from the street. « We started ringing the caretaker and were given permission to take a photo closer. »
Hospitable Kasteelheren
Because the research work based on the Streatenatlas Flanders is not that handy, Linda posted her calls on social media. She even received messages from hospitable castle lords that they were allowed in with her daddy by appointment. « There has been more time in that. I find it a bit difficult that I cannot respond to those invitations as long as my dog is still alive, but I think it is very sweet. »
The Wolffaertshof in Aartselaar. Linda has it for medieval tilting and turrets. – © RR
Henri also says that he is actually particularly interested in the facade. « It's clean enough if you can enter the park, » he says. « I can't leave home long, I have to pee quickly. » Henri is hard to lure his loft. « At Hof ter Linden in Edegem there was a terrace where you could drink something. It took some persuasion, but I was able to drink something with daddy. »
Now that spring comes, they set off again to expand the photo album. « Maybe we should go to Kapeilen. People don't realize how many castles there are in Antwerp, » says Henri. Although the term castle is used quickly. For example, Wolffaertshof Castle in Aartselaar is strictly speaking. « But I like those tilting, we are not too picky, » says Linda.
He used to collect stamps from castles, now selfies. – © KMA
