Past owners of Castle Doorwerth

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.

zegel van Berend van Doorweerd
Seal of Berend of Doorweerd
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.

Johan Albrecht Schellart van Obbendorf
Johan Albrecht Schellart van Obbendorf

Anton I rijksgraaf van Aldenburg

1633-1680

Was 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

Anton I rijksgraaf van Aldenburg
Anton I rijksgraaf van Aldenburg
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

Charlotte Sophie Bentinck
Charlotte Sophie Bentinck

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.

Anton II Rijksgraaf van Aldenburg
Anton II Rijksgraaf van Aldenburg

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

Charlotte Sophie rijksgravin van Aldenburg
Charlotte Sophie rijksgravin van Aldenburg

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 rijksgraaf Bentinck
Willem rijksgraaf Bentinck

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 Gustaaf Frederik graaf van Aldenburg Bentinck
Willem Gustaaf Frederik graaf van Aldenburg Bentinck

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

Willem graaf van Aldenburg Bentinck
Willem graaf van Aldenburg Bentinck

Charles graaf van Aldenburg Bentinck

1810 – 1891

Son 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

Charles graaf van Aldenburg Bentinck
Charles graaf van Aldenburg Bentinck

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.

Philippe Frederique Jacob baron van Brakell
Philippe Frederique Jacob baron van Brakell
Association De Doorwerth 1910 Association De Doorwerth took over the ownership and started the renovation to establish the artillery museum there.

Adolph Hoefner
Frederic Adolph Hoefner initiator of association De Doorwerth
Stephan Brenninkmeijer
Dutch director who lived here.
1964 – 1970