Hackfort, Vorden

Hackfort is a château with a rectangular layout and two round corner towers topped by helmet-shaped roofs with intricate openwork lanterns. The estate includes a converted coach house now operating as a brasserie and a maintained vegetable garden that supplies fresh produce to the restaurant De Keuken van Hackfort.

The château was founded around 1324 and suffered damage from Spanish troops during the Eighty Years' War in the early 1600s. Reconstruction efforts transformed its appearance into what visitors see today, with significant restoration work completed in the years following the conflict.

The interior features a grand staircase decorated with wooden lions holding coats of arms, reflecting how Dutch nobility expressed their status through architectural choices. These ornamental elements show what mattered to the families who lived here over centuries.

The grounds are open to visitors who can explore both the architecture and the gardens at their own pace. The on-site brasserie provides a convenient stop for refreshment while you wander through the property.

An early 17th-century chimney system uses four round flues working together to allow multiple fireplaces throughout the building to function at the same time. This engineering solution reveals the skill of craftspeople from that period.