Nederland - Muiden, Muiderslot

Kasteel Muiderslot (Muiden Castle) is a moated castle, which is dating back to the year of 1285. Count Floris V commissioned the construction of this stone fortress. It is one of the oldest and best preserved castles in the Netherlands. It is also very well known (by foreigners) due to its location near Amsterdam.

Soon after its construction - in 1296 - the castle was destroyed by Bishop Willem van Mechelen. In 1380 a new castle was built on the ruins of the old one. Muiderslot has been a court building, a prison and the official residence of castle wardens. One of the most famous of these wardens was the author and poet, P.C. Hooft. He lived at the castle from 1609 to 1674. During this period, the Muiderslot was an important center for science and art and the meeting place for a group of prominent citizens known as the Muiderkring.

At the end of the 19th century Muiderslot was completely dilapidated and even came close to being demolished. Fortunately that never happened because King Willem I got involved. The castle was renovated thoroughly by the famous Dutch architect Pierre Cuypers. In 1878 the castle became a national museum, one of the first in the Netherlands.

The castle is part of the so called Stelling van Amsterdam (Defence Line of Amsterdam), a ring of fortifications around the city. Since 1996 it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.