St. Maartensdijk Castle

St. Maartensdijk Castle is a former castle which was situated in the town of the same name, in the province of Zeeland in the Netherlands.

St. Maartensdijk Castle probably dates back to the early 14th century. In 1354 it was acquired by Floris of Borselen. His brother Frank had the castle considerably enlarged in 1374.

In 1434 Frank II of Borselen married here with Jacqueline, Countess of Holland. After his death in 1470 the castle passed through the hands of several female family members and then went to the Van Culemborg family. Through inheritance it later went to the Van Egmont family. When, in 1551, Anna van Egmont married William I the Silent, Prince of Orange, it came into the possession of the future Dutch Royal family.

Between 1625 and 1632 St. Maartensdijk Castle was considerably restored, enlarged and adapted to residential comforts by Frederick Henry, Prince of Orange. In the following decades however its upkeep was neglected and it fell into dilapidation. By 1695 the main castle had already fallen to ruin and only the bailey was still in use. During the following centuries the complete castle slowly fell to ruin until its remains were demolished around 1819.

At present nothing remains of St. Maartensdijk Castle but a part of the former moat. The site is now occupied by a private residence.

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