Hasselholt Castle, Renaissance castle in Ohé en Laak, Netherlands
Hasselholt is a Renaissance castle in the Dutch municipality of Maasgouw, built from marlstone and brick with late Gothic archways and stepped gables dating to the mid-16th century. Its distinctive construction style with these characteristic elements defines the building's outer appearance.
The castle was built in 1548 by nobleman Lodewijk van der Horst as a noble residence. Later the Van Laar family took over the estate and adapted it for agricultural purposes in the 18th century.
The castle carries the local dialect name Kestieël 't Gäötje, reflecting the Limburgian language tradition at the border between the Netherlands and Germany. This name shows how residents have called the place for generations, rooting it in regional identity.
The castle is privately inhabited and can only be viewed from the outside. The best approach is to walk from Echt across the Julianakanaal toward Stevensweert, from where you can see the building from the road.
A remarkable feature of the castle is its octagonal stair tower topped with a shingled spire that houses a 16th-century spiral staircase. The interior rooms are adorned with ornate stucco decorations on composite beam ceilings, revealing earlier craftsmanship details.
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