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 centerpiece of the estate is a 19th-century mansion. The gate, created as a park ornament next to a large pond in an arboretum, was designed by Austrian architect Charles-Henri Petersen for 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 searched the internet for an image of that gate but was unsuccessful. Apparently, it was demolished at the end of the 19th century. If someone has an image of that gate or knows of one, please let me know.

Currently, the Mik Gate appears to have no function. The lovely park is freely accessible. I like this gate, even though it is a folly.

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