Drakensteyn Castle

Lage Vuursche, Netherlands

Drakensteyn is a small castle constructed in the years 1640–1643 for a Gerard van Reede Läm. A house called Drakesteijn at this location was first mentioned in 1359. It is owned by Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands, the country's former Queen who abdicated in 2013. Beatrix bought the castle in 1959, when she was the heir to the Dutch throne, and took up residence in 1963. After her marriage in 1966 she continued to live there with her husband, Prince Claus and later their three sons as well. After Beatrix succeeded her mother Juliana as Queen of the Netherlands in 1980, the family moved to The Hague in 1981. The royal connection aside, its most distinctive feature is its octagonal shape. It is surrounded by a moat that can be crossed via a bridge. Its style can be described as Classicist.

References:

Wikipedia

Address

Slotlaan 8, Lage Vuursche, Netherlands

See all sites in Lage Vuursche

Details

Founded: 1640-1643
Category: Castles and fortifications in Netherlands

More Information

en.wikipedia.org
www.holland.com

Rating

4/5 (based on Google user reviews)

Interesting Sites Nearby

Soestdijk Palace (3,9 km)

Royal Palace of Amsterdam (31,4 km)
Nieuwe Kerk (31,4 km)
Rijksmuseum (30,7 km)
American Hotel (31,2 km)
Oude Kerk (31,1 km)
Van Gogh Museum (30,8 km)
Beurs van Berlage (31,3 km)
Stedelijk Museum (30,8 km)
St. Martin's Cathedral (12,2 km)

User Reviews

Ashwin Sumaria (7 years ago)
Lovely country side.

Michal Rutka (7 years ago)
Beatrix lives here

Martijn Seminar Martijn Vervoer (8 years ago)
Monument with history of the Kingdom

Neli Karachorova (9 years ago)
Really well organized security fence

Myron Prins (9 years ago)
Here lives our previous queen Beatrix.

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Photo from Flickr, copyright Klearchos Kapoutsis

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Beckov Castle

The Beckov castle stands on a steep 50 m tall rock in the village Beckov. The dominance of the rock and impression of invincibility it gaves, challenged our ancestors to make use of these assets. The result is a remarkable harmony between the natural setting and architecture.

The castle first mentioned in 1200 was originally owned by the King and later, at the end of the 13th century it fell in hands of Matúš Èák. Its owners alternated - at the end of the 14th century the family of Stibor of Stiborice bought it.

The next owners, the Bánffys who adapted the Gothic castle to the Renaissance residence, improved its fortifications preventing the Turks from conquering it at the end of the 16th century. When Bánffys died out, the castle was owned by several noble families. It fell in decay after fire in 1729.

The history of the castle is the subject of different legends.