The Château d’Argenteuil: A Historical and Educational Heritage

The Château d’Argenteuil was founded in 1837 by Count Ferdinand de Meeûs and completed in 1847. However, shortly after its construction, a fire ravaged the building. That day, while the count was playing cards with the Duke of Arenberg at the Egmont Palace in Brussels, a man burst in and cried out: “Argenteuil is on fire, sir! What should we do?” The count, aware that it would be too late to intervene, chose to remain where he was.

Reconstruction began without delay. Ferdinand de Meeûs discussed architectural styles in Belgium with architect Jean-Pierre Cluysenaar and expressed his wish for a style distinct from the “Leopoldian” one. Cluysenaar then opted for a partial reconstruction of the château in a majestic style, which remains its distinctive hallmark today.

In 1929, American businessman William Hallack Tuck, a close associate of President Hoover, acquired part of the Argenteuil estate. He undertook the construction of another château on the site, named “Château Tuck” or “Château de Bellevue,” not to be confused with the Château d’Argenteuil.

After the Second World War and the occupation by the German army, the Belgian government became the owner of the château and set up a school there.

In 1980, the Scandinavian School of Brussels (SSB) moved to Argenteuil.

En 2016, l’EEBA (École Européenne de Bruxelles-Argenteuil) fut créée suite au partenariat entre le Lycée Molière et la SSB. Elle devint la première école européenne accréditée en Belgique et la quatorzième en Europe.

The SSB permanently closed its doors in 2020.

The year 2025 marks a new stage in the EEBA’s development. Since January, the school has benefited from a contract with the European institutions. From September 2025, more than 150 new students, whose parents work within these institutions, joined the school, further strengthening its role as an educational hub of international standing.

Today, the château belongs to the Queen Astrid Foundation. The foundation’s goal is to preserve the château’s educational purpose and to make it a unique place of learning, where the transmission of values and educational excellence come together.

Although the school receives no public funding, it contributes to local employment and takes care of maintaining the site, notably by hosting various events, seminars, and concerts.

Sustainability and human values are at the heart of the projects developed on site. Despite high costs, the school strives to offer scholarships to students whose families cannot afford private schooling. In 2020, a permaculture project was launched.

EEBA is developing now the “Project 360°”, which aims to promote soft skills — everything beyond the strict academic curriculum. This programme encourages students to get involved in social initiatives and volunteering, helping them develop essential skills such as empathy, collaboration, and civic engagement.

Nestled on the edge of the magnificent Forêt de Soignes, just outside Brussels and in the heart of Walloon Brabant, the Château d’Argenteuil offers an exceptional setting. At the crossroads of history, culture, and education, it is reinventing itself to restore this “sleeping beauty” to its full splendour, with a vision firmly turned towards the future.