Ruïne van Nuwendoorn
Like Radboud Castle, Nuwendoorn was probably built as a fortified castle by Floris V (1254-1296). It consisted of a residential tower of 11 by 11 meters, a main castle of 32 by 32 meters and an outer bailey. After 1367, the castle is no longer mentioned in the archives - it may have disappeared due to a flood. The remains were rediscovered in 1948. What you can see now are partially rebuilt castle walls with modern materials and a new main tower made of steel where you can keep a lookout - just like back then.
Location
Saint Martin
Year built
About 1282
Client
Count Floris V of Holland
Details
It was ultimately never put to use, as Floris V had died before construction was completed
Owned by Monumentenbezit
Since 2022
Wheelchair accessible
No
Visitor information
Open daily from 10am to 5pm, from April to September.
Visiting address:
Burchtweg 3 1744 JE Sint Maarten
Floris V's father, Count Willem II (1227-1256) , fought against the West Frisians for almost his entire life. He wanted to subject the West Frisians to his authority. In 1256, he had to pay for this endeavor with his life. Fate struck during a final campaign against the West Frisians before Willem II would travel to Rome to be crowned emperor . The count fell through the ice. There were no reinforcements, because Willem II had rushed ahead of his troops. The West Frisians killed the defenseless count , but only after his death did they discover who they had actually murdered . Dutch exiles are said to have exclaimed: 'What have you done? You have murdered the king!'. The body was buried behind the fireplace in a house in Hoogwoud.
Floris V was just two years old when William II died. He succeeded his father as Count of Holland and Zeeland, but the government was temporarily led by his uncle. In 1266, Floris was declared of age, after which he took over the government from his uncle. The young count wanted to subject the West Frisians to his authority, just like his ancestors. He also wanted to avenge his father's death. In 1282, his army landed on the coast near Wijdenes and Schellinghout . Heavy fighting broke out, in which, according to tradition, no fewer than 1,200 West Frisians were killed. The battle against the West Frisians had now been decided in Floris V's favor. After an old farmer had pointed out the location of William II's grave, the bones were dug up and taken away .
Nuwendoorn was probably built by order of Floris V as a fortress to keep the rebellious West Frisians under control. His father, Count Willem II, had already started building a chain of fortresses in Kennemerland during his reign. Fortresses were fortified structures with which the inhabitants of the region were kept under control. The fortresses were built at strategic points along the West Frisian Omringdijk. Fortresses appeared in Medemblik (the current Radboud Castle), Alkmaar (the Nieuwburg and the Middelburg), Wijdenes, and at the Rekerdam.
Nuwendoorn Castle was built to guard a dam in the Rekere watercourse. Floris V had the Rekerdam constructed in 1272, together with a dike. The dike formed an exit road between Kennemerland and West Friesland. Melis Stoke, Floris V's clerk, calls Nuwendoorn the best castle in the country in his rhyming chronicle from the early 14th century .
Construction of Nuwendoorn probably began shortly after 1282, after Floris V had defeated the West Frisians. Strong materials were needed that could survive a possible fire. Therefore, sturdy bricks – monastery bricks – were used for the construction. However, this could not prevent Nuwendoorn from being destroyed: after the murder of Floris V in 1296, Nuwendoorn was razed to the ground by the West Frisians. The construction of the castle had not even been completed yet! Nuwendoorn was rebuilt after 1296. Between 1321 and 1366, the castle was run by innkeepers. They were appointed as deputies to the lord of the castle.
After about 1366, Nuwendoorn is no longer mentioned in the count's accounts. The castle was probably flooded by the sea in 1370, after which it fell into ruin. The remains of the castle were discovered in 1948, when a farmer accidentally stumbled upon monastery bricks. More than ten years later, the ruin was exposed. In the 1960s, it was decided to consolidate the foundations and to finish the inside of the ruin smoothly. However, at the beginning of the 21st century, it became apparent that the ruin was in a worrying state. The plan to revitalize the ruin was conceived.
In 2006, the castle was visualized by building the above-ground parts of the walls and placing gabions filled with stones. Architect Paul van Vliet designed a steel tower. Anyone standing on top of the tower has a magnificent view. In 2022, the ruin came into the possession of Monumentenbezit . With the installation of a new access bridge and opening at set times, the ruin has been accessible to the public again since May 2023.