Picture yourself stepping through automated gates into a private sanctuary where centuries-old oak trees frame your view of an adjacent castle estate. The late afternoon sun filters through the leaves, casting dappled shadows across Belgian blue stone terraces as you settle into your covered outdoor lounge, watching your family enjoy the heated pool. This is life at your Belgian vacation home in Oud-Turnhout, where 718 square meters of refined living space offers the perfect retreat from everyday life, just 20 minutes from Eindhoven and 40 minutes from Antwerp.
This partially thatched villa represents a rare opportunity for international buyers seeking a European second home that combines privacy, versatility, and authentic Belgian character. Set on nearly 2,000 square meters of landscaped grounds, the property functions as multiple residences in one: a spacious family retreat, a separate guesthouse studio, a professional office wing, and entertainment spaces that transition seamlessly from intimate gatherings to large celebrations. For families seeking a vacation home in Belgium that accommodates extended stays, multi-generational visits, or even rental opportunities, this property delivers exceptional flexibility.
The Kempen region of Belgium, where Oud-Turnhout sits nestled among forests and heathlands, offers a lifestyle dramatically different from Europe's busier tourist corridors. Here, your holiday rhythms follow the changing seasons through pine forests and nature reserves. Spring brings wildflowers blooming across the Turnhouts Vennengebied nature reserve, perfect for cycling the region's extensive network of car-free paths that wind through protected wetlands. Summer means lazy afternoons by your automated pool, its hydrolysis system and solar heating ensuring crystal-clear water from May through September without harsh chemicals. Autumn transforms the surrounding oak forests into tapestries of amber and gold, ideal for forest bathing walks or mushroom foraging expeditions. Winter evenings gather around one of three gas fireplaces, perhaps in the basement bar with its integrated sound system, or in the soaring dining room where arched windows frame snow-dusted gardens.
The architectural layout anticipates how vacation homes are actually lived in. The ground floor office wing, accessible independently through its own entrance, transforms this property into a work-retreat hybrid for those who blend business with leisure, or it converts effortlessly into additional guest quarters during family gatherings. The living kitchen, equipped with teppanyaki grill, steam oven, and cool pantry, becomes the heart of culinary experiences where you might prepare local specialties like Mechelse koekoek chicken or Limburg asparagus picked up from weekly markets in nearby Turnhout. The breakfast nook captures morning light, perfect for planning daily adventures over fresh Belgian waffles and coffee.
Your separate guesthouse studio provides true autonomy for visitors or generates rental income when you're not in residence. With its own bedroom, bathroom, and kitchenette living area, it accommodates extended family, adult children, or serves as a property manager's quarters. This feature significantly enhances the villa's investment potential, as Belgium's growing short-term rental market shows particular strength in the Antwerp province, where international business travelers and nature enthusiasts seek authentic alternatives to city-center hotels.
The master suite occupies its own private world upstairs, where the walk-in dressing room, private terrace, and dual-jacuzzi bathroom create a spa-like retreat. After days exploring the region, you'll appreciate the sauna and separate seating areas. Four additional bedrooms, each thoughtfully designed with custom cabinetry, ensure comfortable accommodation for up to twelve guests. The top-floor bedroom with ensuite bathroom and expansive attic storage solves the perennial vacation home challenge of where to store seasonal equipment, from bicycles to ski gear for trips to nearby German slopes.
Oud-Turnhout itself embodies the charm of Flemish village life without tourist crowds. The compact village center, just minutes away, offers daily conveniences: bakeries producing fresh pistolets each morning, butchers specializing in regional charcuterie, and family-run restaurants serving stoofvlees and witloof. Weekly markets bring local producers selling everything from artisanal cheeses to cut flowers. For more extensive shopping and dining, Turnhout (8 kilometers) provides a proper town center with boutiques, international cuisine, and cultural venues like the National Museum of Playing Cards, housed in a former ducal castle.
The location balances seclusion with connectivity in ways that make this an ideal European second home base. Positioned on a quiet residential street with minimal through-traffic, you enjoy peaceful evenings while remaining remarkably accessible. Eindhoven Airport sits 20 minutes away, offering direct flights to over 80 European destinations, making weekend escapes or extended summer stays logistically simple. Antwerp, Belgium's second city with its diamond district, fashion scene, and Rubens heritage, becomes an easy 40-minute drive for cultural excursions. The E34 motorway provides quick access to Brussels (90 minutes), Amsterdam (2 hours), and Cologne (2 hours), positioning this villa as a strategic base for exploring northwestern Europe.
Nature recreation surrounds the property. The Groot Schietveld nature reserve, just north, offers 1,500 hectares of protected heathland with marked hiking and mountain biking trails. The Kalmthoutse Heide, straddling the Belgian-Dutch border, provides even more extensive wilderness for Nordic walking, birdwatching, and photography. Several golf courses dot the region, including Archipel Golf Meerhof and Witbos Golf, both within 15 kilometers. Water sports enthusiasts find sailing and windsurfing at Brecht's recreation lakes, while the Albert Canal supports peaceful kayaking routes.
Belgium's favorable property laws for international buyers make this vacation home accessible to EU and non-EU purchasers alike, though engaging a Belgian notary remains essential for navigating registration fees and transfer taxes. The property's exceptional energy performance certificate (EPC of 172) reflects modern insulation, underfloor heating efficiency, and high-performance glazing that keep operating costs reasonable for a home of this size. For buyers considering rental income, Belgian tax law allows deduction of mortgage interest and maintenance expenses against rental revenue, though professional property management companies in the Antwerp province typically charge 12-15% of gross rental income.
The villa's recent updates ensure move-in readiness for international buyers. Fresh interior and exterior painting, the newly installed automated pool system with heat pump, and comprehensive security systems including cameras, alarm, and burglar-resistant glazing mean you can begin enjoying the property immediately. The three-car heated garage accommodates vehicles plus storage for recreational equipment, while the full basement with wine cellar and tasting room, relaxation bar area, and technical rooms provides exceptional utility space rarely found in properties of this vintage.
Key Features: Six spacious bedrooms accommodating up to twelve guests • Four full bathrooms including master ensuite with dual jacuzzis and sauna • 718 square meters of total living space across three floors plus basement • Separate guesthouse studio with independent entrance, kitchen, and bathroom • Ground-floor office wing with two rooms, ideal for work-retreat use or rental • Newly installed automated swimming pool with hydrolysis system, solar heating, and cover • Three gas fireplaces strategically located throughout living spaces • Professional-grade kitchen with teppanyaki grill, steam oven, and commercial appliances • Formal dining room with cathedral ceiling and terrace access • Basement entertainment suite with bar, sound system, and wine cellar • 1,962 square meter landscaped plot with mature oak trees and complete privacy • Multiple Belgian blue stone terraces including covered outdoor dining area • Three-car heated garage with custom storage • Comprehensive security system with cameras, alarm, and reinforced glazing • Energy-efficient systems with EPC rating of 172
This thatched villa represents more than a vacation property; it offers a complete lifestyle platform in one of Belgium's most accessible yet undiscovered regions. Whether you envision summer months by the pool with extended family, autumn weekends exploring Kempen forests, or a rental investment that generates income while appreciating in value, this Oud-Turnhout estate delivers versatility few European properties can match. The combination of multiple independent living spaces, proximity to major airports and cities, and the privacy of castle-estate grounds creates opportunities for enjoyment that evolve with your needs over decades of ownership. Contact Homestra today to arrange a private viewing and begin your Belgian vacation home journey in this exceptional property where heritage craftsmanship meets modern convenience.
