De Nederhorst, Medieval castle in Nederhorst den Berg, Netherlands.
De Nederhorst is a château in Wijdemeren, in the Netherlands, featuring octagonal corner towers and a main building surrounded by a defensive moat. The entrance is marked by a gate in the Louis XIV style, which ties the whole ensemble together.
The castle's origins go back to the 13th century, but French forces destroyed it in 1672 during a military campaign through the region. It was fully rebuilt in 1695, giving it the form it still has today.
Toonder Studios used the castle as a workplace in the 1960s, where the cartoon character Heer Bommel was created. Many Dutch people still refer to the building as "Bommelstein" because of this connection.
The estate has been in a conversion phase since 2022, so access may be limited depending on the current state of work on the property. It is worth checking in advance whether the site is open before planning a visit.
The castle was built on a shifting dune formation, which has influenced its layout and structural evolution over time. This makes it a rare example of a fortified building that had to adapt to ground that was never fully stable.
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