Castle House Buren - Buren

A residential tower (Donjon) made of tuff stood on this spot as early as the 12th century. It belonged to Otto, lord of Buren. This lord had to cede the castle to Reinoud I, the count of Gelre. In the 13th century, the house was expanded into a square castle with a courtyard. Two centuries later, the castle came into the hands of the wealthy Van Egmont family. They had three corner towers added.

In the 16th century, cannons became increasingly harmful and important weapons. The castle could not withstand this; it was converted into a residential castle. This castle was where Anna van Egmont, countess of Buren, celebrated her wedding to William of Orange, also aged 18, in 1551. 44 years later, in 1595, at the same location, their daughter Maria van Nassau celebrated her wedding anniversary with Philip of Hohenlohen Langenberg.

After the Spaniards took over the town and castle, the castle fell into disrepair. When it came into the hands of Prince Frederick Henry in 1630, he restored it and occupied it until his death in 1647. Then it fell into disrepair again. It housed soldiers who completely decimated it. In 1804, the castle was bought by the municipality of Buren, which ordered it to be demolished.

The place where the castle stood is now a cemetery. You can still see where it stood. A plaque on a stone structure recalls the noble castle of days gone by.

Old print: Gelderland Archive