Mik Gate

The Mik Gate, locally known as the Mikpoort, lies northeast of the town of Brasschaat, in the province of Antwerp in the Flemish region in Belgium.

Although the Mik Gate may look medieval, it is not. In fact, it was built in 1830 as a folly on the Mik Estate. The center point of the estate is a 19th century mansion. The gate was built as a park ornament, next to a large pond in an arboretum, by the Austrian architect Charles-Henri Petersen, for the baron Jean-Michel van Havre.

It is said that the gate is a copy of the 'Porte d'Auron'; a medieval city gate of the French city of Bourges. I have searched the internet for an image of that gate but was unsuccessful. Apparently it was demolished at the end of the 19th century. If somebody has or knows of an image of that gate, please let me know.

At present the Mik Gate seems to have no function. The nice park is freely accessible. I like this gate, even though it is folly.

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