Heeswijk Castle

Heeswijk Castle is a former moated citadel close to Heeswijk in the Dutch province of North Brabant. Originally built inside the 11th century, the citadel was restored in 2005. The authentic citadel consisted of a motte erected in 1080. During the following centuries this motte become decreased and in its location a fortress turned into constructed. Heeswijk Castle has played a essential role within the history of the Netherlands. Around the year 1600 Prince Maurits two times did not take the fortress.

Eventually, his half-brother Frederick Henry did, however, succeeded in shooting the fortress in 1629, which in flip enabled him to lay siege to 's-Hertogenbosch. In 1672 the French king Louis XIV stayed at Heeswijk Castle for the duration of his marketing campaign towards the Dutch Republic. At the end of the 18th century General Pichegru, a French popular under the command of Napoleon used the fortress as his headquarters. In 1835, Andre Baron van den Bogaerde van Terbrugge offered Heeswijk Castle, which by means of then had fallen into disrepair, and immediately started out reconstruction works on a big scale.