Abcoude Castle

Abcoude Castle was a former castle situated south of the village of the same name, in the province of Utrecht, in the Netherlands.

The exact date and person responsible for building Abcoude Castle are unknown. It may have been built by Zweder I van Zuylen, who began calling himself 'van Abcoude,' possibly after marrying Hendrika van Abcoude. He was first mentioned in 1268 and also founded Duurstede Castle. The castle was first recorded in 1273, when it was destroyed during the Kennemer Revolt by Gijsbrecht IV of Amstel.

It was rebuilt in 1328. In 1407, Jacob van Gaasbeek, son of Zweder III van Zuylen van Abcoude, inherited it. He died without heirs in 1459, and Abcoude Castle passed to David of Burgundy, Bishop of Utrecht. The bishop and his successors lived in Duurstede Castle, while Abcoude was cared for by stewards. The ownership was transferred from the bishops to the States of Utrecht in 1529.

During the Franco-Dutch War in 1672, soldiers garrisoned the castle to protect it from French troops. After the threat passed, they left, and the castle was neglected by the States of Utrecht. By 1704, it was described as dilapidated. The castle was sold in 1715 to a man named Theodorus de Leeuw, who partly restored it and used it as a country residence until his death in 1744.

Later owners showed little interest in the outdated medieval castle and neglected it. Over time, it gradually fell into disrepair until, around 1800, it became completely uninhabitable and was ruined. The ruins became a stone quarry, and in 1860, the remaining structures were levelled.

Today, nothing of Abcoude Castle remains above ground except part of its former moat. The site is now covered with grassland.

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