Nederland - Ammerzoden, Kasteel Ammersoyen

Kasteel Ammersoyen (Ammersoyen Castle) is considered being one of the best preserved medieval castles in the Netherlands. The typical Dutch moated castle has four round corner towers, a fortified bailey and is encircled by a moat.

The castle was built around 1350 along the river Maas. The river was redirected a short time later, but the castle remained surrounded by water. With its square design and four corner towers, the castle is a good example of the type of castle introduced by Count Floris V of Holland. The castle had many owners until it was severely damaged by a fire in 1590 and it took a long time to repair the damage. In the year of 1667 the “Van Arkel” family restored the castle to its medieval state.

Two hundred years later Kasteel Ammersoyen became a convent for the Order of Saint Clare. The moat was filled in and an adjoining chapel was built. During World War II - between 1944 and 1945 - the castle suffered severe damage.

The nuns left and the castle came into the possession of the Geldersch Landschap & Kasteelen (a Dutch nature and heritage foundation). Restoration work - which took 16 years - has brought back the castle to its former medieval glory.