History 

The van de WERVE family belongs to the Belgian nobility. It is one of the oldest still-existing families of the Antwerp nobility.

 

As early as 1225, a certain Willelmus de LITTORE, alderman of Antwerp, appears, using a scabinal seal bearing three chevrons. His name is found in other documents from the same period, on which he signs as Willelmus de WERVE. He is most likely an ancestor of the current van de WERVE family, whose unbroken lineage traces back to Jean van de WERVE, also an alderman, mentioned in 1299. Jean's son, also named Jean, received King Edward III of England, accompanied by Jacques van Artevelde, during his term as alderman in 1338.

​

The van de WERVE family remained settled for several centuries and held numerous public offices, both before, during, and after Antwerp's golden age. Over time, they produced some fifty aldermen, no fewer than twenty burgomasters, six ammans, six ecoutetes, two margraves of the County of Ryen, and several governors, not to mention the van de WERVE  who were drossarts, treasurers, or held other positions in the Antwerp magistracy.

 

Currently, the van de WERVE family is divided into three distinct branches, although all share the same origin and ancestors, namely Louis-Paul van de WERVE, Count of VORSSELAER (1791-1850):

​

• the branch (Count) van de WERVE de VORSSELAER

• the branch (Baron) van de WERVE de SCHILDE

• the branch (Viscount) van de WERVE d'IMMERSEEL

 

Since 1970, a family association has brought together all members of the van de WERVE family.

​

For any questions regarding this site, the van de WERVE family or objects belonging to the van de WERVE family, please contact the webmaster.​

​