Kasteel Eerde, Ommen, Castle and national monument in Ommen, Netherlands.
Kasteel Eerde is a castle in Ommen featuring a stone building with an ornately designed facade bearing a coat of arms and clock. The structure sits within a French-style park surrounded by mature trees and landscaped forest areas.
The original wooden fortress dates to the 14th century and belonged to knight Evert van Essen but was destroyed in 1380 when forces from Utrecht, Zwolle, and Deventer attacked. The stone structure seen today was rebuilt afterward.
The name derives from 'eerde', meaning earth, reflecting the site's agricultural past. Today visitors can see the manicured gardens and park layout that show how the castle functioned as a place for learning and reflection.
Visitors can join guided tours through restored interior rooms or walk a marked route of roughly 3 kilometers across the castle grounds and forest paths. Sturdy shoes are recommended since the paths cross varied terrain.
The property was converted in 1933 into a Quaker school that sheltered children of Jews fleeing Germany. Many of these children were able to escape persecution and reach safety in other countries through this refuge.
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