Muiden Castle (Dutch: ''Muiderslot'', ) is a

castle A castle is a type of fortification, fortified structure built during the Middle Ages predominantly by the nobility or royalty and by Military order (monastic society), military orders. Scholars usually consider a ''castle'' to be the private ...

in the

Netherlands , Terminology of the Low Countries, informally Holland, is a country in Northwestern Europe, with Caribbean Netherlands, overseas territories in the Caribbean. It is the largest of the four constituent countries of the Kingdom of the Nether ...

, located at the mouth of the Vecht river, some 15 kilometers southeast of

Amsterdam Amsterdam ( , ; ; ) is the capital of the Netherlands, capital and Municipalities of the Netherlands, largest city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. It has a population of 933,680 in June 2024 within the city proper, 1,457,018 in the City Re ...

, in

Muiden Muiden () is a city and former municipality in the Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. It lies at the mouth of the Vecht (Utrecht), Vecht and is in an area called the Vechtstreek. Since 2016, Muiden has been part of the new municipality ...

, where it flows into what used to be the

Zuiderzee The Zuiderzee or Zuider Zee (; old spelling ''Zuyderzee'' or ''Zuyder Zee''), historically called Lake Almere and Lake Flevo, was a shallow bay of the North Sea in the northwest of the Netherlands. It extended about 100 km (60 miles) inla ...

. It is one of the better known castles in the Netherlands and featured in many television shows set in the

Middle Ages In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the 5th to the late 15th centuries, similarly to the post-classical period of global history. It began with the fall of the Western Roman Empire and ...

History

Floris V

The history of Muiden Castle begins with Count

Floris V Floris V (24 June 1254 – 27 June 1296) reigned as Count of Holland and Zeeland from 1256 until 1296. His life was documented in detail in the Rijmkroniek by Melis Stoke, his chronicler. He is credited with a mostly peaceful reign, modern ...

who built a stone castle at the mouth of the river in 1280, when he gained command over an area that used to be part of the See of Utrecht.A.T.E. Cruysheer, ''Het Muiderslot; een archeologische begeleiding en een historische interpretatie, Jaarboek 2005 van de Archeologische afdeling Naerdincklant'', pp. 48-55 The Vecht river was the trade route to

Utrecht Utrecht ( ; ; ) is the List of cities in the Netherlands by province, fourth-largest city of the Netherlands, as well as the capital and the most populous city of the Provinces of the Netherlands, province of Utrecht (province), Utrecht. The ...

, one of the most important trade towns of that age. The castle was used to enforce a toll on the traders. It is a relatively small castle, measuring 32 by 35 metres with brick walls well over 1.5 metres thick. A large moat surrounded the castle. In 1296,

Gerard van Velsen Gerard de van Velzen (died 1296) was lord of Beverwijk, Noordwijk, and Velsen. He was the son of Albrecht van Velsen and Hildegonde. He was married to Machteld van Woerden, a sister of Herman VI van Woerden. In 1275, Van Velzen was named schout ...

conspired together with Herman van Woerden,

Gijsbrecht IV of Amstel Gijsbrecht IV of Amstel or Gijsbrecht IV van Amstel ( – ) was a powerful lord in the medieval County of Holland and a member of the Van Aemstel family. His territory was Amstelland, and his son was . Life His family probably originated from ...

, and several others to kidnap Floris V. The count was eventually imprisoned in Muiden Castle. After Floris V attempted to escape, Gerard personally killed the count on the 27th of June 1296 by stabbing him 20 times. The alleged cause of the conflict between the nobles was the rape of Gerard van Velsen's wife by Floris. In 1297, the castle was conquered by Willem van Mechelen, the Archbishop of Utrecht, and by the year 1300 the castle was demolished.

Fourteenth century

A hundred years later (ca. 1370–1386) the castle was rebuilt on the same spot based on the same plan, by

Albert I, Duke of Bavaria Albert I, Duke of Lower Bavaria (; 25 July 1336 – 13 December 1404), was a feudal ruler of the counties of Holland, Hainaut, and Zeeland in the Low Countries. Additionally, he held a portion of the Bavarian province of Straubing, his Bavari ...

, who at that time was also the Count of

Holland Holland is a geographical regionG. Geerts & H. Heestermans, 1981, ''Groot Woordenboek der Nederlandse Taal. Deel I'', Van Dale Lexicografie, Utrecht, p 1105 and former provinces of the Netherlands, province on the western coast of the Netherland ...

and

Zeeland Zeeland (; ), historically known in English by the Endonym and exonym, exonym Zealand, is the westernmost and least populous province of the Netherlands. The province, located in the southwest of the country, borders North Brabant to the east ...

P.C. Hooft

The next owner of the castle shows up in the 16th century, when P.C. Hooft (1581-1647), an author, poet and historian took over sheriff and bailiff duties for the area (Het Gooiland). For 39 years he spent his summers in the castle and invited friends, scholars, poets and painters such as

Vondel Joost van den Vondel (; 17 November 1587 – 5 February 1679) was a Dutch playwright, poet, literary translator and writer. He is generally regarded as the greatest writer in the Dutch-language literature, Dutch language as well as an important f ...

, Huygens,

Bredero Gerbrand Adriaenszoon Bredero (16 March 1585 – 23 August 1618) was a Dutch poet and playwright in the period known as the Dutch Golden Age. Life Gerbrand Adriaenszoon Bredero was born on 16 March 1585 in Amsterdam in the Dutch Republic, where ...

and

Maria Tesselschade Visscher Maria Tesselschade Roemers Visscher (25 March 1594 – 20 June 1649), also called Maria Tesselschade Roemersdochter Visscher (), was a Dutch poet and glass engraver. Life Tesselschade was born in Amsterdam, the youngest of three daughters of po ...

, over for visits. This group became known as the

Muiderkring The Muiderkring (Muiden Circle) was the name given to a group of figures in the arts and sciences who regularly met at the Muiderslot, castle of Muiden near Amsterdam during the first half of the 17th century, or the Dutch Golden Age, Golden Age o ...

.Hans Kauffmann, ''Rembrandt und die Humanisten vom Muiderkring, Jahrbuch der Preuszischen Kunstsammlungen'', 41. Bd., (1920), p. 60 He also extended the garden and the plum orchard, while at the same time an outer earthworks defense system was put into place.

18th and 19th century

At the end of the 18th century, the castle was first used as a prison, then abandoned and became derelict. Further neglect caused it to be offered for sale in 1825, with the purpose of it being demolished. Only intervention by

King William I William the Conqueror (Bates ''William the Conqueror'' p. 33– 9 September 1087), sometimes called William the Bastard, was the first Norman king of England (as William I), reigning from 1066 until his death. A descendant of Rollo, he was D ...

prevented this. Another 70 years went by until enough money was gathered to restore the castle to its former glory.

Modern times

Muiden Castle is currently a national museum. The inside of the castle, its rooms and kitchens, was restored to look like they did in the 17th century and several of the rooms now house a collection of arms and armour. Image:Muiderslot 010.jpg, Muiden Castle Image:Muiderslot2006.JPG, Muiden Castle Image:Muiderslot.JPG, Muiden Castle Image:Muiderslot vanuit de polder.JPG, Muiden Castle Image:Castle front.jpg, Castle front Image:Werkkamer PCHooft.jpg, PC Hooft workingroom Image:Kruidentuin slot.jpg, Garden Image:Areal view of Muiden Castle and surroundings.jpg, Aerial

References

*Kransber, D. & H. Mils, ''Kastelengids van Nederland, middeleeuwen'', Bussem 1979 () *Kalkwiek, K.A., A.I.J.M. Schellart, H.P.H. Jansen & P.W. Geudeke, ''Atlas van de Nederlandse kastelen'', Alphen aan den Rijn 1980 () *Helsdingen, H.W. van, ''Gids voor de Nederlandse kastelen en buitenplaatsen'', Amsterdam 1966 *Tromp, H.M.J., ''Kijk op kastelen'', Amsterdam 1979 ()

External links

Muiden Castle official website
{{Authority control Buildings and structures in Gooise Meren Castles in North Holland National museums of the Netherlands Historic house museums in the Netherlands Museums in North Holland Rijksmonuments in North Holland Brick buildings and structures in the Netherlands