Clan Rising
Castle Egmond today

Netherlands · Ruin

Castle Egmond

Kasteel Egmond

Egmond Castle is a medieval Dutch castle near Egmond aan den Hoef that developed from an early circular water-castle into a larger square main castle with outer baileys and gateworks. It was the ancestral seat of the Egmond family and was largely destroyed by fire in 1573; 20th-century excavations revealed the buried foundations. Today the site displays bricked-up foundations and low masonry remains outlining the former water castle, towers and baileys.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

Its prime

1510

Today

Ruin

As it stood in 1510

What Castle Egmond looked like in its prime.

At its prime the site read as a complex of red-brown brick masonry set in a surrounding moat: a near-circular island castle with a low circular curtain wall rising from the water, an adjacent square main castle anchored by a thick-walled tower house (donjon), and an extended outer bailey protected by curtain walls and a substantial gate-building with four towers. The southern moat was closed by a masonry dam with multiple arches; roofs were pitched and the masonry shows the varied brick sizes visible in later phases.

Its story

The story of Castle Egmond.

Egmond Castle, built around 1150 near Egmond aan den Hoef in North Holland, was the ancestral seat of the Egmond family, whose members rose to become sovereign Dukes of Guelders, Counts of Egmond and Princes of Gavere, and Counts of Buren and Leerdam. Its origins are closely connected to Egmond Abbey, founded by the counts of Holland at Egmond-Binnen.

Walter I, Lord of Egmond, nicknamed Kwade Wouter, was drawn into the Loon war of 1203–1206, a succession struggle over the County of Holland, during which the faction of Louis II, Count of Loon set the fortified manor on fire in 1205. In 1285 Floris V, Count of Holland confirmed that Sir Willem van Egmond could harbour fugitives from the law of Holland at his house. A second building phase followed the family's growing wealth, after John I, Lord of Egmond (1310–1369) married the rich heiress Gyote van IJsselstein.

The castle grew from an early circular water-castle into a larger square main castle with outer baileys and gateworks, but was largely destroyed by fire in 1573. Twentieth-century excavations revealed the buried foundations, and today bricked-up foundations and low masonry outline the former water castle, towers and baileys, a national monument of the Netherlands.

Step inside

8 places to explore in 1510.

The record describes 8 distinct spots at Castle Egmond, including 2 interiors: interior of the circular water castle, great hall (eastern side), interior. Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.

Exterior approach across the moatCircular water castle, exteriorInterior of the circular water castleMain tower (donjon) and eastern main castle, exteriorGate-building with four towersGreat Hall (eastern side), interiorOuter bailey courtyard and service rangeSouthern dam and moat arches

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Recreate Castle Egmond with AI to explore it.

The artist rebuilds it as it stood in 1510, a photoreal reconstruction that belongs to you alone. Pay with coins, no subscription needed.

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Whose castle

Clans who held Castle Egmond.

The families that held Castle Egmond for a decade or more across its history, follow a name to its clan.

  • Egmond

    Ancestral seat of the Lords of Egmond from c. 1150; the family's members became Dukes of Guelders, Counts of Egmond and Princes of Gavere.

Nearby

Landmarks within reach of Castle Egmond.

Zaanse Schans, NetherlandsMuseumZaanse Schans20 km awayRoyal Palace of Amsterdam, NetherlandsPalaceRoyal Palace of Amsterdam32 km awayVondelkerk, NetherlandsChurchVondelkerk33 km away

Questions about Castle Egmond

What is the history of Castle Egmond?

Castle Egmond was built in the 12th century as the fortified seat of the Egmond family. During the Loon war, Louis II, Count of Loon’s faction burned the fortified manor in 1205, after which a circular stone water castle was built. The site later expanded into a square castle with outer baileys and gateworks, but was burned again in 1573 and became a ruin.

Why was Castle Egmond built, and what was it used for?

Castle Egmond was built for refuge and defence in times of peril, and later became the residence of the Lords of Egmond. The circular water castle served as the defensive core, while living and residential buildings stood on the outer bailey. John III of Egmont enlarged and decorated the castle, although he was the last Lord of Egmond to regard it as his residence.

Where is Castle Egmond?

Castle Egmond is in Egmond aan den Hoef, in the municipality of Bergen, North Holland. It lies about 7 kilometres west of Alkmaar.

When was Castle Egmond built?

Castle Egmond was first raised in the 12th century, around 1150. Its construction developed in phases: a circular water castle was followed by a square main castle, outer baileys and later gateworks. The first castle’s exact building date is not recorded, and accounts in the 11th and 12th centuries differ.

Was Castle Egmond ever attacked or besieged?

Castle Egmond was attacked twice in the supplied history. Louis II, Count of Loon’s faction burned the fortified manor in 1205 during the Loon war, and troops led by Diederik Sonoy burned the castle in 1573 to prevent the Spanish army from occupying it. The castle fell and was largely destroyed in the later attack.

Which family or clan held Castle Egmond?

Castle Egmond was the ancestral seat of the Lords of Egmond from around 1150. Members of the Egmond family became Dukes of Guelders, Counts of Egmond and Princes of Gavere.

What did Castle Egmond look like in its prime?

Castle Egmond was a complex of red-brown brick buildings surrounded by a moat. At its prime it included a near-circular water castle, a square main castle with a thick-walled donjon, outer baileys and a gate-building with four towers. A masonry dam with multiple arches closed the southern moat, and the later phases used varied brick sizes with pitched roofs.

Is Castle Egmond still standing, or is it a ruin?

Castle Egmond is a ruin. Fire largely destroyed it in 1573, later owners sold most of the remains for demolition, and the last clock tower was torn down in 1832. Twentieth-century excavations uncovered the foundations, which were bricked up; low masonry and buried foundations now outline the former water castle, towers and baileys.

Can you visit Castle Egmond?

Castle Egmond can be visited as a ruin. The surviving remains were excavated in the 1930s, and the ruins can freely be visited today. Bricked-up foundations and low masonry outline the former circular water castle, square castle, towers and baileys.

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