Slot Loevestein

Loevestein Castle is one of the most famous castles in the Netherlands. It was built in the fourteenth century by Dirk Loef van Horne (1338-1402), a fiefdom of the Count of Holland. The knight saw in this area originally inhabited by monks (hence the name Munnikenland) a strategic place for a base. From the castle he collected tolls on the Waal, Maas and Merwede and organized raids. In 1372 Dirk lost the castle to the counts of Holland. Due to its strategic location, the castle continued to be a frequent part of conflicts over the centuries. A well-known story about the castle dates back to when it served as a state prison at the end of the Eighty Years' War. On March 22, 1621, Hugo de Groot managed to escape from the castle by hiding in a book chest. For the current opening hours, visit https://www.slotloevestein.nl/.