The Duivelshuis (devils house) is one of the most beautiful and important monuments of Arnhem. Its origins lie as far back as the 15th century, when a city farm stood here.
Maarten van Rossem
Duke Charles of Gelre bought it in 1518. This was not by coincidence – the new Eusebius church was being built next to the house. As the church gained in importance, the status of the house also grew. And the duke was never one to let an opportunity pass. After the death of Duke Charles in 1538, his general, Maarten van Rossem, bought the building. Maarten van Rossem was an excellent commander and strategist, who made a significant contribution to the glory of the duchy of Gelre. Unfortunately for Van Rossem, the enemy (Holland) brought a new weapon to the conflict: printing. Van Rossem was portrayed in pamphlets as a ruthless monster, and this is how he has gone down in history.
Renovation
Maarten van Rossem had the house renovated, giving it a gable according to the latest architectural fashion. Much later, this came to be known as ‘renaissance’ style. The gable is one of the earliest examples of this style in the Netherlands. Van Rossem also had the building embellished with numerous sculptures. The satyrs on the facade were seen by the people of Arnhem as devils, which is how the house came by its name. The mayors of Arnhem have had their offices in the Duivelshuis since 1830. The house was extensively renovated after WWII.
Arnhem the best
Four keystones on the outer wall give a good impression of attitudes in the Duchy of Gelre in the 16th century. The texts refer to the capital towns of the four Gelder regions:
Nijmegen the oldest,
Roermond the bravest,
Zutphen the richest,
Arnhem the best.
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