The Rubens Castle in Zemst, Belgium, will become a vibrant place dedicated to Rubens, with a brasserie, guest accommodation, and space for conferences. This was announced by Flemish Minister of Tourism Zuhal Demir, CEO of Tourism Flanders Peter De Wilde, and Mayor of Zemst Veerle Geerinckx.
Peter Paul Rubens purchased Het Steen as a country estate in May 1635 for 93,000 guilders along with the historic noble title Lord (Seigneur) of Steen. Rubens intended to use the castle as a summer residence as he already owned a mansion in Antwerp about two hours away by carriage.
Peter Paul Rubens, An Autumn Landscape with a View of het Steen in The Early Morning, The National Gallery London
Rubens moved into the castle with his family in November 1635. The castle features in a number of Rubens's most celebrated landscape paintings including The Rainbow Landscape, A view of Het Steen in the early morning and Tournament in Front of Steen Castle.
The first restoration work is set to begin in April 2025.