History of castle Doorwerth
A concise complete history of Kasteel Doorwerth.
Wooden Tower
The castle started out as wooden tower on an island to levy toll, built sometime before 1260, the exact date is not known. This strategic location allows the opportunity to defend the castle. The first known owner is Berend van Dorenweerd.
1260: First Mention and Destruction
The first mention of the Castle is in more unfortunate times when the original wooden structure was besieged and set on fire by the Lord of Vianen in 1260. The Count of Gelre had ordered this to limit the predatory practices of Berend.
Larger and better: Rebuilding of Stone
20 years later, in 1280, a rectangular tower with a canal was built by Berend or his son Hendric. It was a water castle or residential tower, made of stone with a size of 10 by 15 meters. The walls were 1.2 meters thick, and the canal that ran around the tower was fed by the Lower Rhine.
This tower is what we now know as the current East Wing.
1436: Expansions by Reinald van Homoet
Reinald van Homoet enlarges the south wing and moves the main entrance.
There are suspicions that he has also built the massive North Wing. Writings with calculations for a major renovation date from 1435-1436, but it does not mention that this is part of the castle.
Siege
In 1493, Charles of Egmond, Duke of Gelderland, besieged the castle. After 9 days, the castle was captured.
1560: Adam Schelleart
In 1560, Adam Schelleart from Obbendorf, lord of Gurzenich, together with his fellow residents, makes the latest changes. Living comfortably became more important after the 16th century.
The south wing was being expanded again and a south-west tower being built. With those changes, the largest size of the main castle was reached.
The last mentioned tower was demolished in the 18th century and rebuilt in the 19th century.
1579: Planting of the Acacia
1579 is the latest year possible the acacia was planted in the courtyard in honor of the Union of Utrecht.
Dikes
When the Rhine would reach its high point, the land and parts of the lowest floor would flood. To prevent this, a dike was constructed around the castle grounds in 1643, commissioned by Johan Albrecht Schellart of Obbendorf. Dikes gave the lord the opportunity to own more agricultural land, and at the same time it ensured that rivers had less room to execute in the winter. From there on, the lower floors of the castle were dry in winter too.
Not only did he link the castle to the dam with these dikes, there was also a polder and space for a large square garden. So the castle offered what the owners needed at that time; not a well-defensible castle but a castle where one could entertain themself and had the space to receive people.
Gate Building
In the year 1640, the northern corner was renovated and the gatehouse was built by the grandson of Adam, Johan Vincent van Schellaert of Obbendorf.
Johan Albrecht
Despite the income from the rights to Doorwerth, Johan fell into debt. After the death of Willem II, he quickly encountered difficulties. Despite his four marriages, he had no heirs. His biggest creditor, Anton van Aldenburg, Count of Oldenburg, seized the castle. Johan had to live in this situation for five years until his death in 1678.
Anton I, count of Aldenburg
Anton I acquired the castle as Johan’s greatest creditor, though it would never become his main residence. He lived at his castles in Varel and Kniphausen. However, his widow Charlotte Amelie duchess de la Tremoille stayed there after she fleed in 1684.
Disaster year
In the disaster year of 1672 for the Netherlands, Anton van Aldenburg had possession of the castle. This was the year the Franco-Dutch War began, and the Republic of the Seven United Netherlands was attacked by England, France, and the bishoprics of Münster and Cologne. These were tense times for Castle Doorwerth, because both the French and the Dutch Kingdom had troops stationed in the area. During this period, the castle served as shelter for the residents and livestock of Doorwerth. The judge at the time (Op ten Noort) allowed this in the name of the Count.
When the guests departed, the castle was left empty and filthy. The judge threatened to charge the costs to the residents if they did not send maidservants and daughters to clean it up.
The Count himself did not visit until 1677, when he traveled to Nijmegen as a representative of the Danish court for the peace negotiations.
Case observers
The Aldenburg’s rarely stayed in the castle. At the time, the management of the castle was outsourced to observers, who negotiated the seizure of French troops.
Charlotte Amelie
Anton was married to Charlotte Amelie, Duchess de la Trémoille, for five months. She was the only one from her family who stayed at Doorwerth in 1684. She came from noble lineage, including William of Orange and Charlotte of Bourbon. Because her father was in the service of the Dutch state, she spent part of her youth in the Netherlands. Anton and Charlotte met in Copenhagen, where Anton resided at the court.
After Anton’s death, Charlotte and her son had to share the inheritance with Anton’s other children. This situation made Charlotte feel unsafe, so she traveled with her entourage to Doorwerth. The castle, which had been empty, came to life thanks to her presence and her followers. The gardens were maintained again, and there were frequent visitors. William II, who was the guardian of Anton Junior, was a regular guest.
Charlotte, being a Huguenot, had a chapel built near the castle. Her personal pastor preached there. The inscription in the chapel reads: “What does it matter if one rests in the grave, whether one wielded a scepter or handled a rake.”
William II often came to hunt. For his par-force hunts, he had royal roads constructed in the forest. One of these roads ran directly from Loo to Doorwerth. William found Doorwerth so beautiful that he began negotiations to acquire it. Johan van Arnhem mediated the purchase. William first offered money, but when Charlotte did not accept that offer, he proposed a trade with his castle in IJsselstein.
The young Anton, who was studying in Utrecht, visited IJsselstein for inspection. He concluded that it was dilapidated and had not been inhabited for a long time. He also did not like the surrounding polder landscapes. A flat refusal would have been impolite, so the negotiations dragged on for years. William II’s death eventually ended his determination.
Anton Junior
Anton married Anna von Inn- und Kniphausen. This was not a happy marriage, and they quickly divorced—an exceptional occurrence at that time. A few years later, Anton remarried, this time to Princess Wilhelmina Marie of Hesse-Homburg. They alternated living in their residences in Varel, Kniphausen, and Doorwerth.
Anton had the post road from Arnhem to Utrecht widened and planted trees on both sides. He expanded the lordship of Doorwerth, purchasing properties including Wolfheze. Wolfheze owes its name to the plague of wolves in the Veluwe. However, with these purchases, Anton fell deeply into debt.
Charlotte Sophie
Charlotte Sophie was born in 1715 at Doorwerth as the only heir to Anton. She quickly proved to be a very talented writer. At the age of 15, she wrote her first essay. She wrote so much that with the letters she penned throughout her life, she could have kept a private paper mill running.
Unfortunately for her, at the age of 18, she was married off by her father to the son of a good friend of the Dutch prince, Willem Bentinck. Anton was driven by his debts. Willem seemed a promising candidate but turned out to carry significant debt as well. Charlotte was far from happy with this arrangement, having had another suitor in mind.
After the wedding, Charlotte and Willem lived in The Hague, at Sorgvliet, which is now known as the Catshuis. Antoine and Albert were two sons born from the marriage. Her unhappiness grew with the deaths of her grandmother in 1732 and her father in 1738. Both were buried in Varel.
The couple separated, both emotionally and physically. Her mother supported her and provided shelter for her and her youngest son in Varel. When the divorce was finalized, Willem Bentinck was awarded custody of the children. Charlotte continued writing letters to her sons but received little in return. During this time, Charlotte Sophie lived in Doorwerth. Out of spite, Bentinck suspended the region’s finances, which forced Charlotte to seek help across Europe.
Willem Bentinck came to Doorwerth for a few weeks to set things in order. He appointed a judge and aldermen before returning to The Hague.
Charlotte ended up in Berlin, Germany. There, she met Frederick the Great, King of Prussia, who was known as the “Solomon of the North” and the “Philosopher on the Throne.” Frederick gave Charlotte little support, possibly because he did not think much of women, or perhaps because her husband held significant influence in The Hague. After four years, she left Berlin after signing a treaty relinquishing her claims to Varel and Kniphausen in exchange for an annual pension.
Berlin, however, brought her a beautiful friendship with Enlightenment writer Voltaire. Their friendship lasted more than 40 years until Voltaire’s death. During those 40 years, they exchanged hundreds of letters. These letters reveal a deeply intimate friendship. Voltaire called her his “guardian angel” and admitted, “I wish to share my life with you.” They would meet again at his home near Lake Geneva.
After returning to a dilapidated Doorwerth, Charlotte worked hard to restore it to its former glory until her death.
Charlotte faced difficult times after leaving Berlin. In 1768, her son Antoine died, followed by her mother in Varel in 1770. Her husband passed in 1774, and her second son died in England in 1775. Varel and Kniphausen were inherited by her grandchildren.
She had to mortgage Doorwerth and, as a result, lived in a rented house in Hamburg. She initiated a legal battle at the Gelderland court against her daughter-in-law to recover the income from Doorwerth from the past years. The court initially ruled against her. However, upon appeal, Charlotte Sophie won the case, and her daughter-in-law was ordered to pay the legal costs and the income from Doorwerth dating back to her former husband’s death.
Voltaire died during this legal process. In one of his last letters, he wrote, “A distance of 2000 miles and my 84 years cannot diminish the affection I feel for you.”
After 40 years, Charlotte returned to Doorwerth, the paradise of her youth. She was accompanied by her foster son Karl Weissbrod from Paris. Still, she did not stay long. It was too quiet there, so she moved back to Hamburg.
Doorwerth provided income from various sources, including the Noorderbouwing and Westerbouwing farms.
In Hamburg, Charlotte worked on her collection of classical medals, a collection she had amassed over her years of travel. She also corresponded frequently with her grandchildren in England.
Debts
Regelmatig werden er schulden afgelost met de verkoop van bomen en of stukken bos. Zowel van Willem Bentinck als van Charlotte Sophie hebben dit gedaan. Willem verkocht voor 5300 gulden een stuk bos, en Sophie deed dit in 1779 toen zij de rechten op Doorwerth terug kreeg na de rechtzaak.
In 1800 overlijd Sofie. Tegen die tijd zijn de heerlijke rechten afgeschaft, zijn de Nederlanden de Bataafse Republiek en is zij daardoor geen “vrouwe van Doorwerth” meer. Hierdoor worden er geen tienden meer geheven en de molenaars zijn niets meer verschuldigd voor wind en water. Wat overblijft is eigendom van de grond.
Doorwerth komt nu in handen van de oudste zoon van haar jongste zoon. Willem Bentinck. Nederland is in die tijd een Franse bondgenoot. De Fransen zijn voortdurend in oorlog met Engeland. Willem die Engels is heeft daarom geluk dat zijn eigendommen niet worden geconfisqueerd. Misschien is de schuldenlast van 170.000 gulden daar wel oorzaak van? Dit bedrag is nog niet omgerekend naar de huidige waarde.
Van een reiziger verlag weten we dat Willem door verkoop van het hout van Doorwerthse bossen de schuld wil verlichten. Hij verteld dat Doorwerth voornamelijk uit hakhout bestaat. En benoemd prijzen van beuken die tot 700,- gulden komen.
The Gardens
Charlotte Sophie hires J.G. Michael to set up the gardens in 1784. Michael probably took 4 years to complete this job, proof of this are several bills paid over those years.
Prussian War
In 1787, during the Prussian War, soldiers were quartered at the castle. Five batteries were stationed in and around Doorwerth. One of them was destroyed, along with the largest farm of that time.
Neglect
After Sophie’s death in 1800, the castle passed into the hands of heirs in England, her grandson and great-grandson. Since they did not live there, the castle fell into disuse.
Despite the distance and the costs associated with the castle, the owners tried to keep it in their possession. Selling wood and leasing the property were meant to achieve this.
The castle remained empty. William Bentinck was still in England, where he had become a vice-admiral. He died in 1813, passing Doorwerth to his eldest son, who then passed it on to his brother Charles.
The Bentincks only began receiving income again when The Hague allowed them to levy tithes.
Paper production continued, and due to William Bentinck’s financial difficulties, the mills also became the owners of the land on which they stood.
The large sale of trees created many open fields. Farmers leased this land and planted corn and tobacco. The tobacco grown here was suitable for snuff, but unfortunately, snuff fell out of fashion. As a result, Doorwerth missed out on a potential opportunity for revival.
Definitive name: Doorwerth
During this time, the French held power in these regions. With the registrations that the French performed the name had to be written down into records. Since the owners were English, an English version of the name became permanent.
Baron van Brakell
Charles Bentinck sold the castle in 1837 to Jacob Adriaan Prosper, Baron of Brakell of Wadenoyen. He came from the Betuwe region. His family played a role in the Nijmegen quarter and were very wealthy. He brought six children with him, and in Doorwerth, he was blessed with three more.
Because the Aldenburg family had rarely lived there, the castle had slowly fallen into disrepair. He restored the castle with substantial funds and modernized it according to the tastes of that time. Along with his wife and six children, he breathed new life into Doorwerth. He also regularly organized hunting parties and receptions. He would have three more children while living at Doorwerth.
The Baron was soon appointed mayor.
With the feudal rights having expired, Van Brakell had to seek new sources of income. Large areas of forest had been cut down by the Bentincks. Van Brakell had 200 hectares of heathland planted with pines.
With the construction of the railway line between Arnhem and Amsterdam, he insisted that a station be built in Wolfheze. To make the journey to and from the station easier, he had the “Italian Road” paved.
Additionally, he made land available for country estates, businesses, farmland, and factories.
Baron Van Brakell died in 1853. His widow and family continued to live in the castle. His eldest son succeeded him as mayor. After the death of the widow Van Brakell in 1880, the estate had to be divided among all the children and grandchildren of previously deceased children. The castle was inherited by one of the grandsons. The castle of Doorwerth was left vacant when Philippe Frederic Antoine Jacques van Brakell built a new house, “Hoog Doorwerth,” near the Boersberg. The Baron’s eldest son sold the castle in 1910 to the association “De Doorwerth.”
Adolph Hoefner
Frederic Adolph Hoefer, a former military officer, was the initiator of the association ‘De Doorwerth’. This association purchased the castle and began its restoration. From the start, it became clear that much needed to be replaced: floors, attics, and the roof. The Hague subsidized the restoration under strict conditions. Once restored, the initiator’s artillery museum was installed in the castle in 1913, which later became the Army Museum. It was one of the first museums in a castle in the Netherlands. The Dutch Commandery of the Order of Saint John (Johanniter Order) also found its place there. Other parts of the castle were used for the storage of archaeological finds from Gelderland. The remaining areas were made available to the Johanniter Order.
Disagreement
The disagreement over the restoration of Castle Doorwerth was the reason for the Dutch Archaeological Association to formulate general restoration principles.
In the case of Castle Doorwerth, the dispute was between P.J.H. Cuypers and Victor de Stuers, architectural advisors to the government, and the association ‘De Doorwerth’. The debate centered on whether to rebuild all of Baron van Brakell’s outbuildings or restore the castle to the state it was in before his ownership. The advisors wanted the entrance gate and the corridor along the south wing to be removed, a plan that was eventually carried out.
After the war
In 1944 the castle was destroyed by garnet fire. This happened in the aftermath of the battle of Arnhem at the end of September 1944. The ammunition stocks of the German were set on fire and fired on by the Allies.
After the war, the Verenging de Doorwerth took the initiative for restoration. In 1956 the Geldersche Kasteelen took over the management. In 1969 she also got the ownership of castle Doorwerth. For this restoration the situation of the castle of 17th century situation was chosen.
From 1974 the Dutch Hunting Museum took place in the southern wing.
In 1983, a restoration of 37 years is completed, and from that point on the castle could be visited by the public.
Three years later, the castle was opened to the public with Museum Veluwezoom in the east wing.
