Berlaer

The Berlaer lords, properly Berthout van Berlaer, were a branch of the Berthout family, a wealthy noble house of Mechelen which held many lordships in Brabant, including Berlaar near Antwerp, their original seat. In 1314 Jan II Berthout van Berlaer received Helmond and Keerbergen in fief from the Duke of Brabant, and in 1325 he began the stone keep that grew into Helmond Castle.

His son Lodewijk III and grandson Walraven succeeded him as lords of Helmond and Keerbergen, while Walraven's son Jan III ruled from 1361 to 1425. The Berlaer branch held Helmond until 1433, when it passed to the Cortenbach family, while the Berlaar line near Antwerp survived until 1505.