Heeswijk Castle (Holland)

Heeswijk Castle is a former water castle near Heeswijk in the Dutch province of North Brabant. The castle dates back to the 11th century.

Already in the year 1080 a predecessor of the current castle was created, a so-called motte fortress. In the course of the Middle Ages, the motte (castle hill) was flattened and a castle was built on the site of the castle. Heeswijk Castle has played a role in history several times. Prince Maurice was unable to take the castle twice around 1600. His half-brother Frederik Hendrik succeeded in this in 1629, so that he could subsequently besiege 's-Hertogenbosch. In 1672, Louis XIV, the Sun King, was an uninvited guest at Heeswijk Castle during his struggle against the Republic. At the end of the 18th century, Pichegru, general of the French Revolution led by Napoleon, still used the castle as its headquarters. In 1835, governor André baron van den Bogaerde van Terbrugge bought the ruined castle and immediately started a major renovation. His extensive collection of paintings, medieval sculptures, artifacts and curios was continued by his sons, the junkers Louis and Donat, and was on display by appointment. For the benefit of this 'museum', the castle was expanded to include the Arms Room and the Yser Tower. A large part of the collection was auctioned in 1900.