Oud Herlaer, Medieval castle ruins near Vught, Netherlands
Oud Herlaer consists of the remains of a medieval castle situated along the Dommel River near Vught. Fragments of the original structure are incorporated into a modern working farm building, and the site retains traces of its original motte-and-bailey design with earthworks and water systems.
The castle was built around 1050 and initially belonged to the Van Herlaer family until 1315. Ownership then transferred through several hands, including the Van Horne and Rotselaer families, until fundamental changes occurred around 1524.
The site shows how people of the medieval period built defensive structures that merged with the surrounding landscape. Today the place reveals how earlier inhabitants lived with the river and natural features as daily realities rather than obstacles.
The property has been managed by Groen Ontwikkelfonds Brabant since 2015 for both ecological and historical purposes. Visitors should be aware that access is controlled and the site remains an active working farm alongside the historical structures.
Its location on the Dommel was strategically valuable for controlling trade goods moving north and south while blocking east-west passage with natural barriers. This command over transportation routes made the site indispensable to whoever held power across generations.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
