Former Welland Castle - Noordwelle

A castle was built in Noordwelle in the 13th century on the spot where the holiday homes of Hofstede Welland are now located. In the early Middle Ages, this was a motte castle, a wooden castle on a hill from which the enemy could be watched. Until the mid-20th century, the slight slope of the motte hill was still visible.

The noble Haamstede family owned the manor of Welland. The castle in Noordwelle was one of two associated crafts - administrative units in the countryside. The other craft was in Zuidwelle, across the creek. It is the oldest area that was owned by the county of Holland, outside Holland itself.

The counts of Holland were related to the Zeeland knights in several ways. One of those noble families was Van Welle. This name later passed to Van Cats. They came from the Kop van Schouwen and probably sat on the then motte castle in Noordwelle. In the Middle Ages, this became the Steenhuis te Wellant.

Brothers Hendrik and Gerlof van Cats were appointed knights by Aleid of Holland in 1258. Aleid was the guardian of Floris V, later one of the most famous counts of Holland, after he was orphaned. The two Van Cats knights assisted Aleid in raising little Floris V.

For years, the counties of Holland and Flanders fought over Zeeland. Jan II and Jan III of Renesse both played prominent roles in this battle. During one period, they were devoted to count Floris V of Holland and during another period to count Guy of Dampierre of Flanders, who was also Floris V's father-in-law.

Around 1280, Jan II of Renesse became the overseer of Oudewater and Woerden, then important and strategic places of the Earldom of Holland, in the service of Count Floris V of Holland. He became so after his son Jan III married the lady of Gouda, who in turn had been raised by Nicolaas I of Cats as her guardian. Following that, Jan II was a loyal supporter of Floris V.

At the time, Zeeland was lent to the county of Holland by the county of Flanders, which borrowed the region from the King of Germany. In the years that followed, Zeeland's nobility became increasingly dissatisfied with how Count Floris V applied their rights. In 1290, as many as 29 Zeeland Knights, Knaves and Lords rebelled against their feudal lord, including Jan II and III of Renesse and the Lords of Welland. They joined the Count of Flanders. Quite a blow to Floris V, who was imprisoned by order of his own father-in-law - the Flemish count.

Troubled years followed. Holland tried to get out from under the Flemish feudal lordship. Jan III of Renesse then gave his manor and territory precisely to the Flemish count and thus became liege lord of count Guy of Dampierre.

When Floris V was released, he had Jan II of Renesse arrested. Van Renesse was released after his daughter was forced to marry a councillor of Floris V. Another revolt broke out in 1292, led by the Van Borssele and Van Cats families, but the Van Renesses no longer participated. After all, they were the advisers of the now new count Jan I of Holland, Floris V's very young son. In 1296, Floris V was assassinated.

Jan I of Holland had earlier given his half-brother Witte van Haamstede, bastard son of Floris V, the seigniory of Haamstede in fief. Just before his death in 1299, he gave Welland Castle to Willem van Clauwaerde, a citizen of Bruges. Shortly afterwards, he died at the age of 15. His great-nephew John II of Avesnes succeeded him. He was a son of, there she is again, Aleid of Holland. Van Avesnes was succeeded by William III of Holland, or William the Good. He gifted the manor of Welland, including its castle, to Witte van Haamstede in 1313.

The manor was owned by Lodewijk van Zuidland in the late 14th century, after which it came under the Van Tuyll family through inheritance and marriages.

When Moermond Castle was built in 1513, Welland Castle had probably already disappeared. In the centuries that followed, some visible remnants of Welland were found, such as the foundations and a round tower. The current homestead was built in the 18th century and probably stands on the former forecourt.

Photos: ©Zeeuws Archief