Doornenburg Castle arose on the place where a fortified residence stood in the 9th century. In the 13th century, this house was extended to become a castle. Later extensions, such as the forecourt dating from the 15th century, gave it its present appearance.
Unique
Despite the stalwart exterior, the castle cannot boast of an illustrious past: no famous people lived there, it never came under siege and it played no important role in Dutch history. However, it is one of the best examples of late Medieval construction and possesses the most largest forecourt in the Netherlands. Even the farm within the walls is unique in the country.
Decay
After the death in 1847 of the last occupant, Maria Clara van Delwig, the castle fell into considerable decay. Van de Ven complained in 1910, ‘The loudly cawing crows fly in and out through the holes in the roof, singing their monotonous dirge’. Restoration only began when the castle became the property of a private institute in 1936.
WWII
The restoration was such a success that in 1941 the Germans decided to make it one of their headquarters. The recently restored castle was subsequently bombed heavily in March 1945 by the British. As a parting gift, the retreating Germans blew up the remaining gatehouse.
Rebuilding
After the war, it was decided to rebuild the castle in detail on the basis of old drawings, maps and photographs, and the new ‘old’ castle was completed in 1965. Doornenburg is once again one of the most beautiful castles in the Netherlands. It sits in a fairytale setting among reed borders and pastures, dreaming of times past.
Floris
The castle witnessed the birth of the Dutch film industry. The making of the television series, Floris, at the end of the 60s launched the careers of actor Rutger Hauer, director Paul Verhoeven and screenwriter Gerard Soeteman.
