Owners and residents of Doorwerth Castle
Over the centuries, the Castle has changed frequently of owner, each one with their own story. Some of which proud owners who fought for the castle, and others who neglected it.
The following is an overview of all known owners and/or residents.
Name born – died story |
Period of ownership (if known) | Part in the contruction or expension of Castle Doorwerth | |
Burchtheer Berend of Dorenweerd First known owner |
1260 | Built the wooden tower on an island. | |
Wisch | |||
Hendric of Dorenweerd Son of Berend of Dorenweerd |
He or his father built the first stone tower with moat in 1260, also called the water castle. | ||
Reinald van Homoet 1410 – 1458 Was one of the most important nobles of the Duchy of Gelre, in 1449 married Sophia van Bylandt, heiress of the Doornenburg. |
1435 | The castle was the first to be expanded in 1435. | |
Adam Schellaert from Obbendorf, Lord of Doorwerth, Rosande, Grempten and Muggenhusen and Huntermaster of the Veluwe. | 1560 – 1614 | Certain together the appearance that we now know of the castle. | |
Schinnen | 1565-1602 | ||
Geysteren | 1591-1602 | ||
Flodorp | about 1541 – September 8, 1603 | ||
Walrave van Voorst vrouwe van Doorwerth | |||
Johan Albrecht Schellart van Obbendorf Adam’s great-grandson, Lord of Doorwerth from 1628. Was Jagermeester van de Veluwe, colonel of the cavalry and chamberlain of the emperor of the German Reich. Traveled a lot and frequented the highest circles. |
1619-1676 | Built the dikes, vegetable garden and orchards around the Castle. The buildings on the forecastle were built by him in 1640. Because of financial difficulties, he renounced his property in 1667. | |
Anton I rijksgraaf van Aldenburg 1633-1680Was Raadsheer at the Danish court, governor of Aldenburg, lord of Kniphausen and Varel. Took over Johan’s property. Has kept the castle intact for the Dutch disaster year 1672 He married in 1680 with Charlotte Amelie duchess de la Tremoille. |
1677 – 1680 | ||
Charlotte Sophie Bentinck At the age of 28 she married Anton. 6 months later her husband died to leave her pregnant alone in castle Doorwerth. She gave birth to Antons only son. Charlotte continued to live up to old age in Doorwerth. She was so fond of Doorwerth that even King William III could not deceive her from doing so. Willem wanted to make Doorwerth into his hunting lodge. |
1715-1800 | ||
Anton II Rijksgraaf van Aldenburg Huntingmaster for the Danish King, Lord of Kniphausen and Varel. Stadholder William II was his guardian. Married in 1711 with Wilhelmina Maria princess of Hessen-Homburg. |
1681 – 1738 | Expended his Doorwerthse possessions with the purchase of Wolfheze in 1726. | |
Charlotte Sophie rijksgravin van Aldenburg 1715 – 1800 Daughter of Anton II. Grew up in Varel. Received as her dowry from Willem Bentinck on her 18th castle Doorwerth. This was an important figure in Dutch Politics. Seven years later they divorced, as a result of which Bentinck got back into the castle. After the death of her ex-husband and her sons, she started a process to get the castle back. She succeeded in 1779. |
1733 – 1740 1779 – 1800 |
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Willem rijksgraaf Bentinck 1704-1774 Got Doorwerth as collateral for the debts of Anton II, because he had stood surety for him. He was born in Whitehall son of Hans Willem Bentinck, count of Portland and grew up in The Hague. Statesman, physicist and curator of the Leiden Academy. After the failure of his marriage with Charlotte Sophie, the castle was his possession until his death. |
1740 – 1774 | ||
Willem Gustaaf Frederik Count of Aldenburg Bentinck Son of Willem Bentinck’s eldest son Antoine. After a process by his grandmother Charlotte Sophie at the court of Gelre, he had to give up Doorwerth in 1779. |
1762 – 1779 | ||
Willem graaf van Aldenburg Bentinck 1764 – 1813 Lord of Doorwerth from 1800. Son of WIllem Bentinck’s youngest son Jean Albert. Was Vice Admiral at the English fleet and never lived in Castle Doorwerth. |
1800 – 1813 | ||
Charles graaf van Aldenburg Bentinck 1810 – 1891Son of Vice Admiral William Bentinck, lived in England. He sold Doorwerth in 1837 to Baron van Brakell. He was the last Bentinck to own Doorwerth. |
1813 – 1837 | ||
Jacob Adriaan Prosper Baron van Brakell Inhabited the castle from 1868 until his death in 1884, his wife has continued to live there until 1909. |
1837 – 1909 | Paved of the Italian road, sold part of his land to the railway company and stipulated a station that is now station Wolfheze. | |
Philippe Frederique Jacob baron van Brakell, lord of Wadenoyen en Doorwerth 1830 – 1918 Mayor of Doorwerth and the eldest son of Baron and Baroness of Brakell-van Schuylenburch. Was the oldest of nine children. Among these nine, the possessions were divided among which castle Doorwerth. |
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Association De Doorwerth | 1910 | Association De Doorwerth took over the ownership and started the renovation to establish the artillery museum there. | |
Stephan Brenninkmeijer Dutch director who lived here. |
1964 – 1970 |
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