Muiden Castle Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Muiden Castle
Muiderslot

Muiden, the Netherlands
Muiden Castle
Atlas van Loon (1649)
Muiden Castle
Coordinates	52°20′03″N 5°04′17″E / 52.3343°N 5.0714°E / 52.3343; 5.0714
Type	Castle
Site information
Open to the public	Yes
Condition	Good
Site history
Built	1370
Built by	Albrecht, Duke of Bavaria

Muiden Castle (Dutch: Muiderslot) is a famous castle in the Netherlands. It stands at the mouth of the Vecht river, about 15 kilometers southeast of Amsterdam. The river used to flow into the Zuiderzee, which was a large bay. Muiden Castle is one of the most well-known castles in the Netherlands. You might have seen it in many television shows that are set in the Middle Ages.

History of Muiden Castle
Images for kids
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History of Muiden Castle

Count Floris V and the First Castle

The story of Muiden Castle began in 1280. Count Floris V built a strong stone castle right where the Vecht river met the sea. He had just taken control of this area. The Vecht river was an important trade route leading to Utrecht, which was a very busy trading town back then.

The castle was used to collect a special tax, called a toll, from traders. This toll was charged to anyone using the river for trade. The castle was not very big, measuring about 32 by 35 meters. Its brick walls were very thick, more than 1.5 meters wide. A wide moat filled with water surrounded the castle, making it hard to attack.

In 1296, some nobles, including Gerard van Velsen, planned to kidnap Count Floris V. They captured him and held him prisoner inside Muiden Castle. Floris V tried to escape, but he was killed on June 27, 1296.

After Floris V's death, in 1297, the castle was taken over by Willem van Mechelen, the Archbishop of Utrecht. By the year 1300, the first Muiden Castle was torn down.

Rebuilding the Castle

About a hundred years later, around 1370 to 1386, the castle was rebuilt. It was constructed in the exact same spot and followed the original design. This new castle was built by Albert I, Duke of Bavaria. At that time, he was also the Count of Holland and Zeeland.

P.C. Hooft and the Golden Age

The next important owner of the castle appeared in the 16th century. His name was P.C. Hooft (1581-1647). He was a famous Dutch writer, poet, and historian. For 39 years, he spent his summers at Muiden Castle.

P.C. Hooft loved to invite his friends to the castle. These friends were also famous scholars, poets, and painters of their time. People like Vondel, Huygens, Bredero, and Maria Tesselschade Visscher visited him. This group of talented people became known as the Muiderkring, or "Muiden Circle." P.C. Hooft also made the castle's garden bigger and added a plum orchard. During his time, new earth defenses were also built around the castle.

Later Years and Restoration

Towards the end of the 18th century, Muiden Castle was used as a prison for a while. After that, it was left empty and started to fall apart. It became very run down. In 1825, the castle was put up for sale, and the plan was to tear it down completely.

Luckily, King William I stepped in and stopped the demolition. However, it took another 70 years for enough money to be collected. Finally, the castle was fully restored to look like it did in its glory days.

Muiden Castle Today

Today, Muiden Castle is a national museum. It is open to the public. The inside of the castle, including its rooms and kitchens, has been restored to look just like it did in the 17th century. Several rooms now display a collection of old weapons and armor. It's a great place to learn about Dutch history and how people lived long ago.