Finds Stadskasteel Zaltbommel
At the Stadskasteel Zaltbommel, we are working on grouting restoration, as part of the annual maintenance. Last month, during the restoration work, we discovered two special spots behind the facade of the monument! Robin Koot, project manager, talks briefly about the restoration and the finds.
Robin Koot | Monuments Project Manager
A new space
Restoration work for Stadskasteel Zaltbommel started in spring 2024. "We are working on pointing repair, as part of regular maintenance. In the process, we are removing the existing hard grout that causes damage in the masonry. A new softer grout will be installed to better match the existing masonry. During this process, we remove bad stones right away. Once the grouting was removed and some of the bricks were removed from the facade, we suddenly saw a new space emerge. It is a small space of about 1 by 1 meter, I estimate. The ceiling of the room is wood and the walls are plastered. So it is a use space. Yet no one knew this room existed!"
Loophole
That was not the only discovery. “During the work, we also came across a loophole in one of the walls. It is a small opening through which shots could be fired or used for espionage. So it is a new discovery, but this is not the only loophole. There are also loopholes in other facade surfaces, but they are already visible. It is still special to discover yet another new story of the city castle.”
Further research
We will now investigate further what was the function of the small room and what role the embrasure played in the history of the castle. The restoration work will take several more weeks. You can visit the museum in Stadskasteel Zaltbommel as usual in the meantime.
Work, where some stones have been removed - under the red bar you can see a larger hole behind which is the space
