The Castle Slot Zuylen

Since the 13th century, when the Lord of Suilen and Anholt had a tower built, the castle has been subject to many changes and extensions. Halfway the 18th century the last major renovation took place. Attentive visitors will discover remainders from all centuries.

 

Around 1420 the castle was demolished by inhabitants of the province of Utrecht in a battle between 'Hoeken and Kabeljauwen'.

It took more than a century to rebuild the castle: Count Willem van Rennenberg had it rebuilt more than a century later in 1525. In 1536 the building was put on the list of official knight's castles by the States of Utrecht. Until 1752 the castle has undergone hardly any changes. Whilst many a castle was completely destroyed by the French troops in the 'year of disaster' 1672, House Zuylen was saved thanks to this 'sauve garde'. At that time the castle was already owned by the family Van Tuyll van Serooskerken, who were residents during almost three centuries.

 

Diederik Jacob Van Tuyll van Serooskerken, Belle's father, instructed a major renovation. Conform the fashion of those days the castle became a summer residence. During the wintermonths the family lived in a house in Utrecht and enjoyed the social life.

 

One canal was filled up, the defence wall demolished and at the south-west side a wing was added. The south-east front of the middle wing was provided with a new façade. The original entrance was closed and the bridge broken down, to allow coaches to drive up to the entrance. In the other façades the cross-bar windows were replaced by sliding windows, whilst the stepped gables were replaced by a gutter with simple profiles.

 

Until 1951 Family Van Tuyll van Serooskerken owned the castle. The last resident placed the castle, the garden and an important part of the furniture under the management of Society Slot Zuylen.

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