Zandenburg
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Zandenburg was a famous castle just south of
Veere Veere (; ) is a municipality with a population of 22,000 and a town with a population of 1,500 in the southwestern Netherlands, in the region of Walcheren in the province of Zeeland. History The name ''Veere'' means "ferry": Wolfert Van Bors ...
. Nothing remains of it, except some foundations below ground level.


Location and Name


Name

Zandenburg was first mentioned as the house and fortress () in the Lordship () of Zanddijk. Zanddijk () literally means dike on the sand, i.e. on an area with sandy ground. Likewise, Zandenburg is the burg (castle) near or on the sand. The second part of the name:
Burg The German word Burg means castle. Burg or Bürg may refer to: Places Placename element * ''-burg'', a combining form in Dutch, German and English placenames * Burg, a variant of burh, the fortified towns of Saxon England Settlements * Burg, Aar ...
marks its origin as one of the many defendable structures built on an artificial hill.


Location

The remains of Zandenburg are located just south of the walls of Veere. In 1812 Veere's fortifications reached the castle terrains. The outer bailey of the castle reached almost up to the Veerse Watergang, which connects Veere to Middelburg. In 1944 the
Inundation of Walcheren The Inundation of Walcheren was the intentional, but ''uncontrolled'' military inundation, effected by bombing the sea dikes of the former island of Walcheren in Zeeland by the Allies on and after 3 October 1944 in the context of Operation Infatu ...
took place. After the land had been made dry much later, the outer moat on the west side of castle terrain was found to have become part of a new waterway which ran from Zanddijk to the Veerse Watergang.


Castle Characteristics


The sphere of Zandenburg

In the late seventeenth century Kornelis Klein, mayor of Veere investigated the ruins of Zandenburg. He ordered some digging for the foundations and had the mathematician Isaac Hildernisse take measurements. Like Hildernisse did at other places, he made a floor plan, but this was lost. Based on his work, several artists later made reconstructions of how they thought Zandenburg looked previously. The most striking element of one of the eighteenth century reconstructions is an artificial hill that looks like an impossible
sphere A sphere (from Ancient Greek, Greek , ) is a surface (mathematics), surface analogous to the circle, a curve. In solid geometry, a sphere is the Locus (mathematics), set of points that are all at the same distance from a given point in three ...
planted on the castle grounds. It is based on Hildernisse's drawing of the foundations, which shows a circular structure in the center of the terrain. A very solid explanation of the impossible sphere was given by ''Verwey''. He noted that the path around the hill, and the cupola on top resembled a very close by castle motte which had such a path and cupola only decades before, and might have inspired the drawers.


Early Zandenburg

There can be little doubt that there was a circular, and therefore artificial structure at Zandenburg. It dated from the thirteenth century or earlier and according to later drawings, it had a diameter of about 35 m. It could have been one of the c. 150 artificial hills in Zeeland. In such case, it is probable that Zandenburg was a
motte-and-bailey castle A motte-and-bailey castle is a European fortification with a wooden or stone keep situated on a raised area of ground called a motte, accompanied by a walled courtyard, or bailey, surrounded by a protective ditch and palisade. Relatively easy ...
.
Jaap Renaud Jacob Gerard Nicolaas (Jaap) Renaud (Voorburg, 20 February 1911 - 25 April 2007) was a Dutch archaeologist and adjunct professor at Utrecht University. Life Family Renaud's father was a House painter and decorator, house painter supervisor. ...
thought a round
water castle A water castle, sometimes water-castle, is a castle which incorporates a natural or artificial body of water into its defences.Forde-Johnston (1979), p. 163. It can be entirely surrounded by water-filled moats (moated castle) or natural waterbo ...
much more likely than a small hill. Not in the least because he did not see any document that referred to an elevated terrain. In 1955 a single trench was dug through the area where the hill was supposed to be. The ground was sterile and did not show any evidence typical for artificial hills. Nothing was found; no brick, no pottery shreds, no animal bones. On the other hand, it also did not show evidence of a water castle. While the original drawings by Hildernisse were lost, a 1729 copy shows a motte (see picture). This copy also has the outer bailey walls correct, and is therefore rather credible. Furthermore, the relatively small known remains of the 13th century castle border this motte. Renaud noted that if there was ever a place for further archaeological investigations, it would be the 'motte' of Zandenburg. In 1983 ''Verwey'' published extensive research on the location and depictions of Zandenburg. He said that the two known contemporary depictions of Zandenburg do not depict a hill. The Panorma of Walcheren, attributed to
Anton van den Wyngaerde Anton van den Wyngaerde (Span.: ''Antonio de las Viñas''; 1525 – 7 May 1571) was a prolific Flemish topographical artist who made panoramic sketches and paintings of towns in the southern Netherlands, northern France, England, Italy, and Spa ...
rather accurately depicts the castle, but no hill on the north side of the castle. The other depiction of the castle is on the Veere maps by Van Deventer. The Madrid version of the Veere map clearly shows a rectangular castle and no hill. On the contrary, the Eekhoff version is less clear and might show a round structure resembling a round water castle. Verwey also noted that in 1551, when the castle was still intact, the historian Reygersberg, who lived in Veere wrote: (and next to the old hall of Zandenburg one can today still see a high sand hill). Renaud probably missed the observation by Reygersberg. However, he noted that out of fear for the Spanish the inhabitants of Veere demolished a lot at Zandenburg, and that they would certainly have levelled a high hill close to the city walls. Apart from the hill, the only other known remains of the early castle consisted of a few stretches of wall excavated in 1955. These dated from the 13th century, and were made from red bricks measuring 30 * 15 * 8 cm. These small remains are in line with the accepted theory that the first Zandenburg was built by Wolfert van Borselen in about 1280.


The square castle

The big square castle and its huge outer bailey date from the second half of the 15th century. This is the castle depicted on the (reconstruction) drawings and the floor plan of the excavations. These look glorious, and are mostly in line with archaeological evidence. Two aspects are relevant for history: How rich was Zandenburg, and what was the military value of the castle? The archaeological evidence sheds some light on this. In 1955 almost the whole eastern half of the main castle was excavated. The excavations showed a large square castle. Unlike the 18th century pictures, the walls of the castle did not meet at 90 degree angles. The walls near the eastern corner tower had parallel inside walls at about 2 m distance. These probably had to do with the defensive functions of the castle. On the northern corner of the main castle was a tower house with walls of about 2 meter thick at the base. The report of the excavations did not date the tower house differently from the rest of the main castle. On the courtyard, or rather below it, was a dome for harvesting rainwater. It was made of small 19 cm long brick, and therefore a later addition to the castle. It had two thin circular walls with a layer of
loam Loam (in geology and soil science) is soil composed mostly of sand (particle size > ), silt (particle size > ), and a smaller amount of clay (particle size < ). By weight, its mineral composition is about 40–40–20% concentration of sand–si ...
in between. The bottom and the inside were plastered. The dome was about 2–3 m high. The huge outer bailey was 150 m long. The limited excavations did not show the gate buildings on the outer bailey. However, these are known from 18th and 19th century pictures, and are known to have been demolished in 1812. A heavy fragment on the east side was probably the only remnant of the eastern gatehouse. On the southwest corner of the outer bailey, the foundations of a significant building were found. These were made of re-used 13th century brick, mixed with smaller bricks. Accounts indicate the presence of a wall with arcs and a
chemin de ronde A ''chemin de ronde'' ( French, "round path"' or "patrol path"; ), also called an allure, alure or, more prosaically, a wall-walk, is a raised protected walkway behind a castle battlement. In early fortifications, high castle walls were difficu ...
on the outer bailey. It's not known how much of the outer bailey was protected by such walls. About 250 m south of the castle, the half-circle choir of the castle chapel was found. Hildernisse probably missed this structure, because later reconstructions showed a large square church building, which had nothing to do with what the archaeologists found. The outside of the main castle foundations was covered with light-gray stone. This is a sign of wealth, and so is the size of the main castle and of the outer bailey, and the presence of a separate chapel. The above shows that the square castle was not only the seat of a wealthy lord, but was also very defendable.


History


The Lords of Zanddijk

The first lords of Zandenburg were known by the name of their lordship, i.e. as 'van Zandijk'. When Simon van Zandijk died without legal male successors in 1247, he was succeeded by Hendrik Wisse van Borsele.


The Van Borselen family

Hendrik I van Borselen is supposed to have been present at a tournament in Haarlem in 1235 as (lord of) Veere. Hendrik belonged to a younger branch of the Van Borselen family, named for the village Borsele on
Zuid-Beveland Zuid-Beveland (; "South Beveland") is part of the province of Zeeland in the Netherlands north of the Western Scheldt and south of the Eastern Scheldt. Topography It is a former island, now peninsula, crossed by the Canal through Zuid-Bevelan ...
. Until 1390 the branch of the Lords of Veere had a coat of arms which included three stars, to distinguish them from the main branch, headed by Hendrik's brother Frank. Hendrik I is supposed to have founded early Zandenburg, of which so little is known with certainty. He remarried Maria van Egmont, and had Wolfert I, Raas, Jan and Hadewich. In 1282 Wolfert I van Borselen and his wife Sibilie paid homage to Countess Beatrice of Holland for their lands near Zandijk. Wolfert received them back in fief in from her, and after her from the counts of Holland, through her marriage to
Floris V, Count of Holland 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 ...
. While other fiefs in Zeeland were only inheritable by sons, this was granted as inheritable by any descendant of Wolfert. Floris V also joined and sealed the contract. Wolfert I would play a significant role in history of Holland and Zeeland. He became a kind of regent for
John I, Count of Holland John I (1284 – 10 November 1299) was Count of Holland and Zeeland as son of Count Floris V. John inherited the county in 1296 after the murder of his father. Shortly after his birth, after negotiations between Floris and King Edward I of E ...
. During his tenure John was very often in Veere, probably at Magdalon Castle, also known as Latedale. Wolfert I amassed much wealth, but was lynched in Delft in 1299. Most of the fiefs he had acquired in Holland were then seized by the count of Holland. Wolfert II van Borselen would succeed his father Wolfert I. In 1300 the Van Borselen's killed some of their enemies in Veere. In 1303 Wolfert II sided with the Count of Flanders, and the inhabitants of Veere killed their Holland governor. In 1309 these violent events were reconciled. Wolfert II died in 1317. Wolfert III van Borselen became the next lord of Veere. Wolfert II was styled as Lord of Veere in 1341. He was probably responsible for the first city walls of Veere. In 1350 Count
William William is a masculine given name of Germanic languages, Germanic origin. It became popular in England after the Norman Conquest, Norman conquest in 1066,All Things William"Meaning & Origin of the Name"/ref> and remained so throughout the Middle ...
granted or confirmed Wolfert III in the possession of Veere and other goods, including Zandenburg. During the
Hook and Cod wars The Hook and Cod wars (; sometimes semi-anglicised as the wars of the Hoecks and the Cabbeljaws) comprise a series of wars and battles in the County of Holland between 1350 and 1490. Most of these wars were fought over who should hold the title ...
Wolfert III first sided with Margaret, but then revolted against her. He lost the
Battle of Veere The Battle of Veere was a small naval battle that took place in late May 1351 during the Hook and Cod wars. Context Just like the County of Holland, the County of Zeeland had been very restive after the death of the last male Avesnes family, ...
, and died soon after. Next came Wolfert IV. He would be succeeded by his younger brother Hendrik II. Hendrik II got Hendrik III, who was succeeded by his younger brother Wolfert IV (?-1411). During Wolfert IV's rule Veere became steadily more suitable as a sea harbor. Hendrik IV (?-1448) was still young when his father died. Hendrik IV was very successful in commerce and in naval warfare. He even became a member of the
Order of the Golden Fleece The Distinguished Order of the Golden Fleece (, ) is a Catholic order of chivalry founded in 1430 in Brugge by Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, to celebrate his marriage to Isabella of Portugal, Duchess of Burgundy, Isabella of Portugal. T ...
in 1445.
Wolfert VI of Borselen Wolfert VI of Borselen (c. 1430 – 29 April 1486, Saint-Omer) was stadtholder of Holland, Friesland, and Zeeland, Admiral of the Netherlands outside Flanders, and Lord of Veere. Family Wolfert VI van Borselen was the son of Henry II of ...
(c. 1433–1487) married
Mary Stewart, Countess of Buchan Mary Stewart, Countess of Buchan (1434 or 1435 – 20 March 1465) was the fifth daughter of James I of Scotland and Joan Beaufort, Queen of Scots. She married Wolfert VI of Borselen, a Zeelander nobleman,Poswick, Eugène (1886)"Histoire du ...
at Zandenburg in 1444. Mary died without surviving offspring in 1465. In 1467 Wolfert VI became stadholder of Holland and Zeeland. He was also Admiral of the Burgundian Netherlands. Wolfert VI was on the losing side in the
Flemish revolts against Maximilian of Austria In the period 1482–1492, the cities of the County of Flanders revolted twice against Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor, Maximilian of Austria (from 1486, King of the Romans), who ruled the county as regent for his son, Philip the Handsome. Both r ...
and died in exile.


Burgundy-Beveren

Anna van Borselen was probably born from Wolfert VI's second wife in 1471 or later. She was married to
Philip of Burgundy-Beveren Philip of Burgundy-Beveren (c. 1450 – 1498), lord of Beveren, was a son of Antoine, bastard of Burgundy, illegitimate son of Philip the Good and Jeanne de Presle, and Marie de la Viesville. Life Philip of Burgundy-Beveren married Anna v ...
(1450-1498) in the early 1480s. Philip belonged to a bastard branch of the dukes of Burgundy, and was Admiral of the Netherlands from 1491. Anna would later remarry with Louis of Montfoort. He was acknowledged as Lord of Veere in 1503, but died soon after, in 1505. In 1505 a disastrous fire ruined most of the outer bailey of Zandenburg. However, Anna's rule from 1498 till the ascent of her son was glorious, with Veere expanding, and many princes visiting Zandenburg.
Adolf of Burgundy Adolf of Burgundy (1489–1540) was Lord of Veere and admiral of the Netherlands. Family Adolf was a son of Philip of Burgundy-Beveren and Anna van Borselen. This would one day make him Lord of Veere. The family resided at Zandenburg, near V ...
(1489–1540) son of Anna and Philip became Lord of Veere on 22 August 1504. However, his mother lived till 1518, and documents indicate that for a time she continued to be involved on a daily basis. Adolf quickly got the esteem of the lords of the Netherlands. He also became Admiral of the Netherlands.
Maximilian of Burgundy Maximilian of Burgundy (1514–1558), marquis of Veere and Lord of Beveren, was a noble from the Low Countries in the service of the Habsburgs. Family Maximilian was the son of Adolf of Burgundy and Anna of Bergen. He was a descendant of A ...
(1514-1558) succeeded in 1540. He became Stadholder of Holland, Zeeland and Utrecht in 1547. Maximilian also became Admiral, and became Marquis of Veere and Vlissingen in 1555. His archives allowed a reconstruction of his court at Zandenburg. It consisted of four departments. At the top were the office () and the gentlemen. The cared for the personal needs of the lord and lady. The and were concerned with horses and weapons, and did maintenance and external distribution. The kitchen and were concerned with processing food and drink. This was a general model of organization, but for Maximilian's court, details of the number of staff and their names are known.
Maximilien de Hénin, 3rd Count of Bossu Maximilien de Hénin-Liétard, Count of Boussu (1542 – Antwerp, 21 December 1578) was a soldier and statesman from the Habsburg Netherlands. During the Eighty Years' War he was the royalist stadtholder of Holland, Zeeland and Prince-Bishop ...
(1542-1578) inherited Veere and Zandenburg from Maximilian, but the estate was so debt-ridden that his father decided to refuse the inheritance. In 1567
Philip II of Spain Philip II (21 May 152713 September 1598), sometimes known in Spain as Philip the Prudent (), was King of Spain from 1556, King of Portugal from 1580, and King of Naples and List of Sicilian monarchs, Sicily from 1554 until his death in 1598. He ...
then bought the scaled down Marquisate of Veere.


Demolished at the start of the Eighty Years' War

Almost from the start of the
Eighty Years' War The Eighty Years' War or Dutch Revolt (; 1566/1568–1648) was an armed conflict in the Habsburg Netherlands between disparate groups of rebels and the Spanish Empire, Spanish government. The Origins of the Eighty Years' War, causes of the w ...
Veere sided with the rebels. From 3 May 1572 it successfully kept the Spanish troops at bay. Zandenburg fell into disrepair and ruin. In 1585 almost everything that was left of the castle was demolished and used to build Bastion Oranje in Veere. In 1582
William the Silent William the Silent or William the Taciturn (; 24 April 153310 July 1584), more commonly known in the Netherlands as William of Orange (), was the leader of the Dutch revolt against the Spanish Habsburg Netherlands, Habsburgs that set off the ...
had bought the marquisate, but he was only interested in the power that this gave him in the States of Zeeland.


The ruins of Zandenburg (1585-2021)

After most of Zandenburg was demolished, there were a few remains. The artificial hill described above, had disappeared by 1700. The gate called had been converted into a house, and would stand till 1812. There was also a big barn and there were two towers near the Veerse Watergang. These remains of the outer bailey were demolished in 1812, when the French extended the fortifications of Veere. By 1944 nothing remained of Zandenburg, excepts the remnants of some moats, and even these were largely destroyed that year. In 1948 some foundations became visible on a new water leading from Zanddijk to Veere. In 1955 a
Land consolidation Land, also known as dry land, ground, or earth, is the solid terrestrial surface of Earth not submerged by the ocean or another body of water. It makes up 29.2% of Earth's surface and includes all continents and islands. Earth's land surface ...
project started in the area. It led to a hasty archaeological excavation of part of the terrain by
Jaap Renaud Jacob Gerard Nicolaas (Jaap) Renaud (Voorburg, 20 February 1911 - 25 April 2007) was a Dutch archaeologist and adjunct professor at Utrecht University. Life Family Renaud's father was a House painter and decorator, house painter supervisor. ...
, because any foundations that were found would be removed. In 2005 the site of Zandenburg was protected as an archaeological monument. In 2018 the Walcherse Archeologische Dienst started to investigate the terrain with the use of
Ground-penetrating radar Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) is a geophysical method that uses radar pulses to image the subsurface. It is a non-intrusive method of surveying the sub-surface to investigate underground utilities such as concrete, asphalt, metals, pipes, cables ...


References

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Notes

{{Reflist, 2 Castles in Zeeland Former palaces