Castle of Geertruidenberg - Geertruidenberg

The Castle of Geertruidenberg, also known as the Bergs Castle, was built in 1323 on the orders of Count William III of Holland. He granted Willem van Duvenvoorde the office of sheriff of Geertruidenberg and instructed him to realise a fortified castle with a city wall within two years. The castle had a square layout with four towers, an outer bailey and double moats, and served as a military stronghold and administrative centre on the southern border of the County of Holland. Although Willem van Duvenvoorde, an influential nobleman and confidant of the count, rarely stayed at the castle, he was responsible for its construction and management.

Over the centuries, the castle played a role in several armed conflicts, including the Hook and Cod wars. In 1352 it was severely damaged but later repaired. In 1439 it came into the hands of the Duke of Brabant, but by the end of the 15th century the castle had fallen into disrepair. Eventually, in 1525, Emperor Charles V gave permission to demolish the castle; the stones were reused in the fortifications in and around the city.

Centuries later, in 2002, the foundations of the castle were rediscovered at the Wilhelminaplein during archaeological research. In 2021, part of the eastern castle wall was reconstructed here. This visual reconstruction allows you to imagine the original castle.

Photo for illustration.