Kruiningen Castle

Kruiningen Castle was a former castle situated in the village of the same name, in the province of Zeeland, the Netherlands.

The exact date when Kruiningen Castle was built is unknown. It served as the residence of the Lords of Kruiningen. The first Lord of Kruiningen, Wouter van Kruiningen, was first mentioned in 1198. The castle itself was first recorded in 1304 when William the Good, also known as William III, Count of Holland, helped the Lords of Kruiningen financially to maintain their castle. Apparently, the castle had been damaged in previous years during conflicts between John II, Count of Holland, and Guy, Count of Flanders.

In the early stages of the 80 Years' War, the last Lord of Kruiningen, Maximilian, aligned with the Spanish Crown and entered military service. After his death in 1612, the castle was inherited by his daughter, Louise. When she and her husband, Philippe de Recourt, Baron of Liques, also sided with the Spanish, the Dutch Republic confiscated the castle.

Following the Peace of Münster in 1648, the States of Zeeland sold the castle to Gerard van der Nisse, who restored the dilapidated Kruiningen Castle. Later, the castle was owned by the De Huijbert family through marriage. In 1702, it was inherited by Pieter Anthonie de Huijbert. By that time, the castle was no longer inhabited by the family and had fallen into disrepair. In 1721, Pieter Anthonie ordered the castle to be demolished.

Historical images show Kruiningen Castle as a rectangular, moated structure with three square corner towers. A larger building occupied the fourth corner.

Today, nothing remains of Kruiningen Castle.

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