Westhove Castle, Medieval castle in Oostkapelle, Netherlands
Westhove Castle is a medieval fortress in Oostkapelle, Zeeland, surrounded by water-filled moats and flanked by two round towers. Three gates lead through to the outer courtyard, and the grounds include a main tower, outbuildings, and a park with old trees.
The castle dates to the 13th century and was used from 1277 as a summer retreat by the abbots of Middelburg Abbey. Over the following centuries it changed hands several times and was gradually altered and extended with each new owner.
The Terra Maris museum occupies a former orangery on the castle grounds and focuses on the natural world of Zeeland, from its coastal birds to its tidal creatures. Walking through it gives a clear sense of how closely life in this region has always been tied to the sea.
The castle now operates as a youth hostel, and staying overnight gives access to the grounds, including the park and the moats. Arriving early in the day is a good idea if you want to walk the quieter parts of the estate before other visitors arrive.
The grounds include a scale model of a medieval motte-and-bailey fort, showing what early fortifications looked like before stone construction became common. It is one of the few reconstructions of this type in the Netherlands that can be seen directly next to a real castle.
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