Dutch Fairy Tale
Muiderslot (Amsterdam Castle), Muiden, Netherlands
Having been to dozens of castles, Muiderslot is easily within my top ten. As you can see, it's much like what you may have drawn as a child; square in layout, surrounded by a moat with towers on each corner and colorful flags flying in the breeze. And it makes for a fun, interesting and easy visit. A Fairy Tale Castle.
Of course, no real castle was ever built with a fairy tale in mind (sorry not sorry, Ludwig II's "castles" in Bavaria don't count...they are palaces not real castles). Such with Muiderslot: At the end of the 13th century, around 1280, Count Floris V built the original castle at the mouth of the river Vecht to gain control over the main trade route to wealthy Utrecht and enforce a toll on the river (it's always about money and power isn't it?)
And also of course Floris V came to an inevitably violent end in 1296, and his castle creation soon followed, demolished in the years after his fall. But the castle was eventually rebuilt as an outlying defense for the increasingly important city of Amsterdam in the 14th century, which was well on its way of becoming the wealthiest city in the western world at the time.
The reason the castle was preserved however has a nobler source of inspiration: Pieter Corneliszoon Hooft, the "Shakespeare of the Netherlands", gained Muiderslot as his home after being appointed sheriff of Muiden in 1609. Here he founded a famous literary society called the Muiderkring, encouraging poets and authors in their pursuit of the Arts. Hooft himself wrote a significant history of the Netherlands, noteworthy in its impartial take on Dutch history. A romantic celebration of Hooft's legacy led to the castle receiving its status as a National Monument in 1878.
During Hooft's time, the gardens, plum orchard and outer earthworks were extended, and these are worth visiting once you finish the fascinating castle tour (be sure to either follow a guide or use the audio tour). Most of the castle’s interior dates from Hooft's era as well.
While you can get to the castle via bus, it's best to drive, as it's a kilometer from the nearest bus station. Or you can take a ferry from Amsterdam, but you will not get there for my favorite time to shoot, early morning, as seen here.
The shot: manual settings, Capture One Pro for post-processing, and hand-held standing on top of a picnic table for more height. I'm sure old Floris V would have approved. Hooft, probably not!
Selected for FLICKR Explore October 29, 2021, # 46.
*Press L or left click on the photo for best viewing.
Link to ~My best photos~
*** All my photos are © All Rights Reserved. ***
Dutch Fairy Tale
Muiderslot (Amsterdam Castle), Muiden, Netherlands
Having been to dozens of castles, Muiderslot is easily within my top ten. As you can see, it's much like what you may have drawn as a child; square in layout, surrounded by a moat with towers on each corner and colorful flags flying in the breeze. And it makes for a fun, interesting and easy visit. A Fairy Tale Castle.
Of course, no real castle was ever built with a fairy tale in mind (sorry not sorry, Ludwig II's "castles" in Bavaria don't count...they are palaces not real castles). Such with Muiderslot: At the end of the 13th century, around 1280, Count Floris V built the original castle at the mouth of the river Vecht to gain control over the main trade route to wealthy Utrecht and enforce a toll on the river (it's always about money and power isn't it?)
And also of course Floris V came to an inevitably violent end in 1296, and his castle creation soon followed, demolished in the years after his fall. But the castle was eventually rebuilt as an outlying defense for the increasingly important city of Amsterdam in the 14th century, which was well on its way of becoming the wealthiest city in the western world at the time.
The reason the castle was preserved however has a nobler source of inspiration: Pieter Corneliszoon Hooft, the "Shakespeare of the Netherlands", gained Muiderslot as his home after being appointed sheriff of Muiden in 1609. Here he founded a famous literary society called the Muiderkring, encouraging poets and authors in their pursuit of the Arts. Hooft himself wrote a significant history of the Netherlands, noteworthy in its impartial take on Dutch history. A romantic celebration of Hooft's legacy led to the castle receiving its status as a National Monument in 1878.
During Hooft's time, the gardens, plum orchard and outer earthworks were extended, and these are worth visiting once you finish the fascinating castle tour (be sure to either follow a guide or use the audio tour). Most of the castle’s interior dates from Hooft's era as well.
While you can get to the castle via bus, it's best to drive, as it's a kilometer from the nearest bus station. Or you can take a ferry from Amsterdam, but you will not get there for my favorite time to shoot, early morning, as seen here.
The shot: manual settings, Capture One Pro for post-processing, and hand-held standing on top of a picnic table for more height. I'm sure old Floris V would have approved. Hooft, probably not!
Selected for FLICKR Explore October 29, 2021, # 46.
*Press L or left click on the photo for best viewing.
Link to ~My best photos~
*** All my photos are © All Rights Reserved. ***