Nederland - Doetinchem, Kasteel Slangenburg

Kasteel Slangenburg (Slangenburg Castle) was founded in 1234, but first mentioned in 1354. In the 17th century the castle became the property of Frederik Johan van Baer - a Dutch officer in the military service of Willem III van Oranje - who rebuilt it in 1675 for residential purposes.

After Van Baer the Slangenburg has changed hands many times, mostly by inheritance, but twice by sale. The last sale took place in 1895 when the German timber merchant and large industrialist Arnold Passmann took over the castle and adjoining estate. In the beginning only because of the large amount of wood that could be cut there. However, when he visited his new purchase, Passmann was struck by the house and its surroundings and decided to live there every year for some months. Members of the Passmann family are buried in a private cemetery next to the moat of the castle.

After World War II all German properties were confiscated by the Dutch government, who thus acquired the castle, which stills forms part of the portfolio of the Rijksgebouwendienst (Royal Buildings Service). Nowadays the castle is used as a guesthouse by the nearby Benedictine Sint-Willibrordsabdij. This monastery was built in the 1950’s and is situated on a part of the castle's former estate.

The name Slangenburg most probably derived from a small stream Slingebeek that flows through the area.