Fortunately, the Netherlands still has many beautiful castles, often with the opportunity to visit and view them. Heeswijk Castle, located near the town of the same name, Heeswijk has a long history, with roots in the eleventh century. After all the restorations, the castle looks beautiful again. The castle is located in an environment that invites you to walk or cycle, while keeping the castle in sight.
Heeswijk
The town of Heeswijk , near ‘s-Hertogenbosch, is now part of the municipality of Bernheze . You can see the beautiful Heeswijk castle along the Aa river. This castle has a long and glorious past.
The AA
Although the Aa River has a somewhat tame character today due to all the canals, in earlier times the Aa was a navigable trade route. The Aa and the Dommel both flow through Brabant to ‘s-Hertogenbosch, where they flow together as Dieze to the Maas. Controlling such a waterway gave an advantage. On the one hand for trade, on the other hand for possible toll collection or for security of the environment.
View from one of the loopholes
Motte
In the year 1080, a motte was built on the site where Heeswijk Castle now stands. This was an artificial hill, which was raised as a fortification. The whole was surrounded by a moat, which drew its water from the Aa. On the hill stood a building, built of tuff and wood. The building was probably a kind of tower, so that the surrounding countries could be closely monitored. The first recorded resident of the castle was Count Almericus van Heeswijk in the mid-twelfth century, in 1156 .
Middle Ages
With the occupation of the castle, the need for living space and comfort increased. The original motte was flattened and the original tower was replaced by a castle. After the castle came into the possession of the Benthem family in the thirteenth century, the motte was expanded with a round and a square tower. That the castle was fortified and could hold its own became clear when around 1370 storms by Geldersen and Gulickers could be repelled.
Corridor in the vaults
Construction and renovation
Over the years, the castle was often renovated and expanded to meet the demands of the residents and the changing times. When Willem van der Aa , alderman of ‘s-Hertogenbosch, buys the castle, the castle is thoroughly renovated and various elements, such as walls and towers, are added. Not long afterwards, around 1400, the next owner, Knight Hendrik van der Lecke , had a new stair tower and a hall wing built. The renovations continued until the castle took its current shape around 1500. A castle where you could live comfortably and representatively, but which also retained its defensive value.
Siege and conquest
The value of the castle as a defensive bastion became apparent when the Gelderland general Maarten van Rossem was unable to take possession of the castle in 1518. Stadtholder Maurice of Orange, son of William of Orange, also failed to capture the castle around 1600. His half-brother, Frederik Hendrik, who succeeded him as stadtholder, succeeded in 1629. The castle then took an important place during the battle for ‘s-Hertogenbosch, which was captured by the same Frederik Hendrik in the same year 1629.
From Louis XIV to the French period
Heeswijk Castle formed a wonderful base for rulers in their struggle. For example, the Sun King Louis XIV of France stayed at the castle in 1672. He concluded the Treaty of Heeswijk on July 16, 1672, between France and England. More than a hundred years later, a French commander is again present. Pichegru, who was a general in the French army under Napoleon, used the castle as his headquarters.
Heeswijk Castle
The last generation
At the beginning of the nineteenth century, the castle was no longer in optimal condition. Governor André Baron van den Bogaerde van Terbrugge bought the castle and all its lands in 1834 for the sum of 72,500 guilders and immediately started a major renovation, during which the castle was also expanded with the Armory and the Yser Tower. The extra space was necessary to accommodate the growing collection of works of art that Baron van den Boagaerde van Terbrugge built up with his sons, the squires Louis and Alberic.
The last generation
The Bogaerde van Terbrugge family inhabited the castle until the second half of the twentieth century. Willem Van den Bogaerde van Terbrugge died in 1974. His widow, Albertine Van den Bogaerde van Terbrugge, founded the Heeswijk Castle Foundation in 1976. This foundation fully owned the castle in 1987. There are now no more noble residents. The last member of the family, the adopted daughter Marie-Louise, died in 2007.
Interior of Heeswijk Castle
Museum function
Baron van den Bogaerde van Terbrugge was a great collector of works of art. The collection becomes known nationally and internationally. As a result, the castle is known as a museum and has even been compared to the Musée de Cluny in Paris. Although many pieces were later sold all over the world by successors, there is still much that is worth seeing.
Restoration
The castle was last restored in 2005. The castle, as it is now, gives a good impression of the way people lived in the castle in the mid-nineteenth century.
Castle garden. Rembrandt’s Night Watch can be recognized in the images
New possibilities
The castle can now be visited. The former coach house provides a brasserie and a castle shop, and the beautiful garden provides a beautiful image of a nineteenth century castle garden. There are regular activities, during which the gallery and the cellar vaults of the castle are also accessible. If you want to see more, you can. Guided tours are held regularly. The Heeswijk Castle Foundation , together with the Friends and Protectors of Heeswijk Castle, ensures the maintenance of the castle and interior. The castle is also an official wedding location for the municipality of Bernheze. Getting married in style, it is possible here.
Finally
Heeswijk Castle is a beautiful example of a nineteenth century castle on medieval foundations. The gardens, canals, parks and lands around the castle, located on the river Aa, give the castle just the right appearance. You should definitely check it out!