Bulgersteyn Castle

Bulgersteyn Castle is a former castle which was situated in the city of Rotterdam, in the province of South Holland in the Netherlands.

Bulgersteyn was first mentioned in 1333 when a residence with some 5 hectares of land was pawned from the Count of Holland by Diederiek die Visser. At that time it was situated directly next to the town of Rotterdam, on a small moated island. During the next decades the medieval town was expanding and by 1358 the castle was already situated within the city walls. At that time Johanna van Teijlingen was mentioned as Lady of Bulgersteyn. The site was called a 'castle' for the first time in 1390.

Because of the growing powers of the town at the expense of the feudal owners of the castle, Bulgersteyn Castle fell into neglect during the 15th century. In 1449 it was described as being considerably dilapidated and in 1488 it was destroyed when Frans van Brederode conquered Rotterdam, during the Hook and Cod Wars.

Apparently some parts of the castle survived, as a part of it was still used for habitation in 1550. By 1560 the castle had disappeared and only its foundations and minor ruins remained. During the 17th century everything disappeared under the growing city.

Archaeological excavations were carried out in 1941, after the center of the city had been obliterated by the German bombing of Rotterdam the year before. They revealed the foundations of the castle.

At present nothing remains of Bulgersteyn Castle.

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