Nederland - Vaassen, Kasteel De Cannenburgh

Cannenburgh Castle was built in 1543 by a famous Dutch figure, Marten van Rossem. He constructed a country house on the spot of a medieval castle.

In the Middle Ages the village of Vaassen had a castle, called Kannenberg, but its not kwon when it was built. The first records date from 1365 and at that point in history, it was a leasehold estate belonging to the dukes of Guelders. The ruins of fortress were bought in 1543 by Marten van Rossem. He chose the style of the Dutch Renaissance for Cannenburgh Castle and built it on top of the remains of the old stronghold. However, he never managed to see the castle completed.

Van Rossem died in 1555 and his nephew, Hendrik van Isendoorn, inherited the castle and it remained in the family for over three centuries. Over the years, the castle has been altered and extended many times and it became also a stone entrance bridge.

Since the 1950’s Cannenburgh Castle and surrounding park are owned and managed by the ‘Stichting Geldersch Landschap en Geldersche Kasteelen’, a Dutch heritage foundation; castle and park are open for visitors.