Netherlands · 13th century
Westhove Castle ranks #5,594 of 9,040 worldwide in the atlas's castle fame ranking, and #61 of the 198 mapped in Netherlands. Founded 1277, it is older than 64% of the atlas's dated landmarks, one of 1091 atlas entries founded in the 13th century. Its Wikipedia articles were opened 973 times in the last 60 days, more than 50% of the atlas. 2 more atlas landmarks stand within 25 km. The nearest day-trip guide is Middelburg, 10 km away. See how Netherlands compares in the castle statistics.
The castle was mentioned in a charter of 1277 by Count Floris V as being the property of the abbey in Middelburg, but it is not clear how old the castle was then. On 14 April 1401 it was well dedicated to Willem van Beijeren, Count of Oostervant, after which he received it back as immortal legacy. Every time a new abbot came, the name was changed. The abbot was a powerful man in Zeeland, he was also chairman of the States of Zeeland and Walcheren, and the States gathered in the abbey. In 1413 Westhove was leased for 25 years to Philips van Borssele, lord of Cortgene. Many important people were received at Westhove:
Count Floris V and Wolfert I van Borselen, lord of Veere concluded the 'Traktaat van Westhove' there on 30 October 1290 Count and Countess of Charlois in 1460 Charles the Bold Philip of Austria and his wife in 1500 Their little son, later Emperor Charles V, in 1505 and 1540 Mary of Hungary, sister of Charles V, in 1547 Prince William V on 1 July 1786 Queen Dowager Regent Emma and 13-year-old Queen Wilhelmina on 22 August 1894 In 1559 Middelburg became a bishop's city, after which the bishop ruled Westhove. The Siege of Middelburg followed in 1572. Westhove was occupied by soldiers, who finally had to surrender to Bartholt Entens van Mentheda.
This Groningen nobleman was the captain of the watergeuzen who had conquered Dordrecht, after which they moved to Zeeland. He also set fire to the castle on 27 August 1572. Walcheren came under the rule of William of Orange. The church belongings were then sold, the new owner of Westhove became Colonel Heijnrik Balfour, who died two years later. His widow Christina Kant sold it to Pierre de Loiseleur, called de Villiers, counsel to Prince William I. He died in 1590 and was buried in the St Pieterskerk in Middelburg.
Jacob Boreel (grandfather of Jacob Boreel) was the next owner, followed by his son Willem Boreel (1591-1668), ambassador to France. After that, Westhove came into the hands of Johan van Reigersberg, his widow and then their son Jacob. (1725) The weather vane with a heron dates from that period. Rather than leaving the estate to his son Adam Boreel, Jacob bequeathed Westhove to his cousin Jacoba van den Brandde. She was married to Johan Adriaan van de Perre but died childless.
Text adapted from “Westhove Castle” on Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0.
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