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Before the 13° centuries already there was at the place of the current museum a reinforced farm, surrounded by a ditch. These farm, which the ‘Hooftvonder ' or ‘Hooftvunder ' were called, served possibly for the maintaining of a surrounding wooden bridge concerning the “Grote schijn river”. The farm developed into a reinforced estate, which changed repeatedly of owner and it was bought in 1524 by Gerard Sterck († 1564), merchant, banker and secret Council man of emperor Karel V. He rebuilt the castle to a pleasant country house, which after him the Sterckshof were later called. The castle had indeed to suffer from the religion wars, but it became in contrast to other outside courts in Deurne not completely destroyed.
Silvermuseum Sterckshof - Antwerp
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