Haus Empel

The ruins of Empel castle are located on the Empelse Meer. This castle dates from the beginning of the 13th century. Over the years, the castle has already been in the hands of several owners. At the end of the Second World War, during the liberation, the Germans used the castle to block the way of the Allies towards Bocholt from there. Many castles were occupied by the Germans during the war as observation towers, as accommodation for troops and officers or as storage space for weapons and ammunition. Castles were also deliberately destroyed to prevent them from being used by enemy forces. Almost half of the total damage to castles and country estates in the Netherlands occurred during the last year of the war. This castle was also completely destroyed in the last months of the war. All that remained was a ruin and reconstruction was not financially feasible for a long time. Only in 2000 did the reconstruction of the castle ruin start. Today the castle is privately owned.