Bentheim Castle - Bad Bentheim

At the beginning of the film ‘St Hildegard's bones’, we see how Arend, Gerda's father, embarks on a foot trip to Rüdesheim in Germany. There, he wants to honour the bones of Saint Hildegard with a visit. But Arend is old and no longer in top shape, and arriving in Bad Bentheim, he becomes unwell and dies in the street. At the end of the film, we revisit Bad Bentheim, where Jan (played by Herman Finkers) has travelled there, on his way to the Lorelei, to scatter Arend's ashes. His son and daughter join him there at his request.

Bad Bentheim is known for its spas (hence the addition ‘Bad’), and of course for its centuries-old castle. This castle is first mentioned in documents in 1020, but was probably built much earlier. From the 12th century, the castle has been family property of the Rheineck and Van Northeim families. Through them, it came into the hands of Otto of Bentheim.

Remarkably, the castle was built of sandstone blocks. This sandstone was excavated in the area around Bentheim and was used for constructions throughout the area, including across the border in Twente. The castle is still inhabited, by the noble Zu Bentheim und Steinfurt family, as they have officially been allowed to call themselves since 1817. The part where they live is not accessible, but the rest of the castle is open to the public.