Huis te Riviere, Medieval château ruins in Schiedam, Netherlands
Huis te Riviere is a castle ruin site in Schiedam featuring remains of a thick brick tower and fortified walls from medieval times. The structure sits near the current town hall along the street that bears its name.
A noble constructed this rectangular fortress in 1262 to monitor and collect tolls from vessels traveling the river. The building suffered settlement problems due to marshy ground beneath it, requiring structural repairs.
The ruins reveal how people once controlled movement along the river through a physical stronghold. This structure shaped the way the settlement around it would eventually develop.
The remains are easily visible from the street with no special access needed to view them. An artwork placed beside the ruins in 1997 serves as a helpful marker to locate the site.
The foundation required partial reconstruction because an underground creek beneath the building caused the peat soil to settle. This reveals the construction challenges that builders faced in this wet region.
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