<infobox>
<title source="title1"> <default>Hernen Castle</default> </title> <image source="image1">
</image> <label>Streamlined location</label> <label>Real life location</label> <label>Built in</label> <label>Function</label> </infobox>
Overview
Hernen Castle is a landmark at Seest, based on Kasteel Hernen.
Lore
Around 1350, construction started on a reinforced keep on the outskirts of a small village. Stories tell of wizard named Hernen, the wizard of the hills, who had the keep build as he missed the height of the hills. Hernen would later find his demise here in a final stand against St. Drol the Bugslayer after getting betrayed by a greedy king. With the keep empty, the family who owned the town swiftly claimed ownership of it around 1380.
Only a few years later, expansion started as the family grew in wealth and influence. Expansions continued until, by the 15th century, the tower had been turned into a complete castle with a small courtyard, several towers and a moat. Various wealthy families have lived inside Hernen Castle, many renovating it out of necessity or to fit their own preferences. Very little of the original interior has been preserved as a result, but rumours have it that one of the earlier inhabitants once hid some of their riches in a secret room and bricked up the entrance. The few attempts at finding this room haven't been successful.
Although a rich family still resides in it, ownership of Hernen Castle was given to the Seest Township in 1907.
During WWII, Seest remained a low priority target due to its proximity to Kroosdrichem's sugar factory and Dokmuiden. This, much to the township's pleasure, resulted in Hernen Castle coming out of the war mostly unscathed.
Real life
Hernen Castle was build around 1350 as a simple keep. Over the years it has been expanded multiple times, during which the old courtyard gained more and more buildings. During one of these expansions, Hernen Castle received covered crenellations. It is currently the only Dutch castle with its crenellations covered up.
Ever since the 17th century remains uninhabited, which is part of the reason very little of the castle got rebuild. This, in turn, resulted in the castle's original structures being very well preserved, though the original keep collapsed in the 18th century.
In the 19th century, the appreciation for older buildings grew, and Hernen castle was bought by the Den Tex family in 1883. One of the daughters of the original buyers donated the castle to 'Stichting Vrienden der Geldersche Kasteelen' (Friends of castles from Gelderland Foundation), which was established specifically for it. This foundation gave Hernen a lot of restaurations.
Nowadays the castle is open for visitors.
Trivia
- In 1968, the Dutch television show Floris was partially filmed on this location.
- Jiskpirate, who added Hernen Castle to Streamlined, chose it for this very reason.
- The series was also filmed on Doornenburg, which is in Streamlined too.