Castle Nederhorst
In the 13th century Nederhorst must have been a simple water tower (keep) on a bump of sand (a horst) in a swampy area. Near this defense work, on the same horst, a wooden chapel had been built much earlier around the year 800.
The donjon was centrally located in a wide meander of the Vecht and had a more or less strategic location on the edge of the Utrecht foundation, bordering the county of Holland. At the time, such structures were usually not intended for permanent residence, but were purely defensive structures; sometimes they were also used to preserve the harvest. As with many other donjons, a residential wing was added later, after which the complex could develop into a castle.
Nederhorst has been on the list of recognized knight cities of the glory of Utrecht since 1536. To qualify as a knight's yard, the building had to be surrounded by a moat, a drawbridge and outbuildings. The castle lord also had to show a certain wealth.
The owner had various privileges, such as a seat in the Ridderorde and thus in the States of Utrecht and some tax exemptions. The seat in the States of Utrecht gave the person concerned access to official functions in the region and in The Hague. On the other hand, a knight had no right to act or act. Anyway, the possession of a knight's court city gave the owner power and prestige.
Godard van Tuyll van Serooskerken radically modernized the house around 1700. The house took on the character of a country estate. In the winter, the elite lived in the city, but in the summer people moved with all their possessions to their country estates. Away from the smelly canals, away from the unhealthy city to the pleasure gardens outside by ship. There they received guests, lingered in the meticulously landscaped gardens, conversed, played music, marveled in the Wunderkammer or went hunting. It was important to impress the guests by an imposing house in the middle of beautiful gardens.
Castle Nederhorst
In the 13th century Nederhorst must have been a simple water tower (keep) on a bump of sand (a horst) in a swampy area. Near this defense work, on the same horst, a wooden chapel had been built much earlier around the year 800.
The donjon was centrally located in a wide meander of the Vecht and had a more or less strategic location on the edge of the Utrecht foundation, bordering the county of Holland. At the time, such structures were usually not intended for permanent residence, but were purely defensive structures; sometimes they were also used to preserve the harvest. As with many other donjons, a residential wing was added later, after which the complex could develop into a castle.
Nederhorst has been on the list of recognized knight cities of the glory of Utrecht since 1536. To qualify as a knight's yard, the building had to be surrounded by a moat, a drawbridge and outbuildings. The castle lord also had to show a certain wealth.
The owner had various privileges, such as a seat in the Ridderorde and thus in the States of Utrecht and some tax exemptions. The seat in the States of Utrecht gave the person concerned access to official functions in the region and in The Hague. On the other hand, a knight had no right to act or act. Anyway, the possession of a knight's court city gave the owner power and prestige.
Godard van Tuyll van Serooskerken radically modernized the house around 1700. The house took on the character of a country estate. In the winter, the elite lived in the city, but in the summer people moved with all their possessions to their country estates. Away from the smelly canals, away from the unhealthy city to the pleasure gardens outside by ship. There they received guests, lingered in the meticulously landscaped gardens, conversed, played music, marveled in the Wunderkammer or went hunting. It was important to impress the guests by an imposing house in the middle of beautiful gardens.