The most beautiful castle in the Netherlands may be on Gelderse soil
Empire of Nijmegen / Achterhoek
HERNEN – Fifty Dutch castles compete for the honorary title ‘Most beautiful castle in the Netherlands’ in an election of the ANWB. The Gelderland representation in the competition is in favour: no fewer than fourteen castles from our province are competing.
The cabinets in Ruurlo, Vorden, Doornenburg, Vaassen, Ammerzoden, Batenburg, ‘s-Heerenberg, Laren, Doorwerth, Hernen, Rozendaal, De Steeg, Poederoijen and Wijchen are all on the longlist that the ANWB, in collaboration with the Dutch Castle Foundation and the Cultural Heritage Agency, has signed.
Castle manager Maaike Kool of Kasteel Doornenburg is happy with the nominations and hopes that the castle where she works with great effect will ultimately win. “It means some extra attention, which is nice. Especially when you are closed, it is important to stay in the picture. This kind of PR naturally contributes to that.”
Unadorned castle
It was no surprise to Kool that Doornenburg Castle is one of the nominees. “This castle excels in simplicity and robustness,” she says. “It has little frills, we are not a baroque-curly castle. Something for everyone of course, everyone likes something different, but if you go for simplicity and really medieval, this is the place to be.”
Kool estimates the chance that Doornenburg Castle will really win the election with a wink at ‘1 in 50’. It would be wonderful if we win the election, but we also wish someone else. If we are proclaimed the most beautiful in Gelderland, that would also be very nice.”
Gem in the Land of Maas and Waal
Also in Hernen, where Hernen Castle adorns, people are excited. “If we win, that would be fantastic. We are a gem in the Land van Maas en Waal, but very unknown. If we win, I am sure that everyone who comes here will appreciate the castle,” says castle manager Tatiana Klinkert .
What makes Hernen Castle so special, says Klinkert, is that it has never been besieged in history. This is how it looked once, many centuries ago. “You experience rust here and take you back in time. People experience that they start it practically,” says Klinkert.
The castle manager admits that no visitors have been allowed to visit Hernen Castle for a while now. “But if you want to vote for us, you can also make a good impression by walking near the castle.”
Wijchen Castle
Earlier, Tanja Bruins, who is associated with Castle Wijchen as a castle manager, has already communicated with a media partner RN7 from that ‘her’ castle definitely deserves the vote of the public. “This castle is special because we have had royal residents here. Inside the castle the story is told of the royal resident Emilia van Nassau, daughter of William of Orange.”
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