Castles and country seats

In the Middle Ages, numerous castles were spread over the counties of Holland and Zeeland. These strategical fortifications where residencies of the lords in that area, who usually ruled the earldom as vassals in the name of the earl during the medieval feudal state model. The castles were, in the first place, a means of defence for the territory belonging to it - normally an estate - and furthermore, to rule or explore the area from this building. Therefore, castles and their ruins are not only architectural monuments, but also interesting witnesses of medieval society.

As the medieval period passed, the castles' characters also changed. In the thirteenth century, the counties of Holland and Zeeland were like a patchwork of more or less autonomous territories, which were still depending on the earl. Within this governmental system, full of diversities, it was very important to have a defendable home. Quarrels between neighbouring lords, or worse, conflicts between groups of nobles (f.i. the Hoeks and Kabeljous quarrels during the 14th and 15th century) would cause war-like activities, against one had to protect oneself. During the 15th century, the counties of Holland and Zeeland became part of the Burgundian empire. As a result, most border conflicts came to an end. The central government saw to it, that conflicts between the nobles occurred less frequently. As a consequence, from that moment on the castles did not have to be built for defence purposes only. Therefore, living comfort became more important now. Probably the development of guns and canons also contributed tothese developments. Even the thickest walls could not last very long against these forces. When defend ability disappeared as a necessity, residential and governmental aspects remained.

Assumburg Castle

Ten Berghe Castle

Dever Castle

Apart from the nobles, another social group became more and more important: inside the towns, an elitist group of rich civilians was crystallizing during the late middle Ages. After some time, this group was also able to obtain governmental positions, not only inside, but also outside the towns, because they provided financial support to the king or earl, for example with respect to the reclamation of land. Such financiers were therefore able to create polder crafts and build castles. Pawning by the earl with a trade automatically meant being admitted to nobility.

The roll of the civilians in Holland and Zeeland became more and more important during the 16th century, whereas the power of nobility did decline. Especially during and after the Eighty Years War, many nobles lost their position. Within the Reformed regional governments, there was no longer much place for the Roman Catholic nobles. Civilians and governors took their places.

When the noble proprietors were gone, many manors were taken over by governors and rich civilians. Possession of land was an important medium to display one's place in society, also for the non-noble elitist groups. Especially during the 17th century, many countryseats were established, most frequently on the basis of farming, so that business and pleasure were combined. On their manors and estates, the wealthy civilians and governors played landlord. Their estates, consisting of an impressive manor surrounded by beautiful gardens, were the centres of their play.

Egmond Castle

Ravestein Castle

Westhove Castle

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