Former Castle Boelenham - Dodewaard

House Boelenham is originally a small castle from the Middle Ages, probably built in the 15th century at the initiative of Borre van Doornick. Within the heerlijkheid Hemmen, it functioned as a watch castle, a place for successors of the lord who had not yet moved into the main castle of Hemmen.

Over time, the property came into the hands of the Van Lynden family through inheritance, who ruled Hemmen for centuries. By 1809, a devastating flood destroyed the building. The little castle was literally washed away. Thanks to timely evacuations, there were no fatalities.

Only the moat structure was preserved. In recent decades, the land was purchased by the former estate, which has planned redevelopment, including housing within the historic castle moat.

Today, Boelenham is mainly of historical significance: it symbolises the direct connection between noble families, their strategic buildings and the landscape in the Betuwe. The moat and underground foundations are silent witnesses to that past.