History

Castles originated in Holland in the 11th and 12th centuries.As the empire, created by Charlemagne, fell apart under the sons of Louis the Pious, the vassals and counts became more independent. 

The declining power of the monarch and Viking raids led the vassals and counts to build palisades and moats around their manor residences. Once the Viking raids ceased, land became the object of war. 
The number of castles grew with the increase in the population rate during the 11th century. This caused a shortage of fertile land which in turn started the feudal system when the castle became the center of an enormous farm.
A castle was either the residence of a lord and his administrative seat or solely a military stronghold under control of the monarch.Few real castles were ever built in the three most northern provinces of Holland because this area was never dominated by great lords or the feudal system. 
The 13th and 14th centuries marked the peak of traditional castles.The rise of towns, use of mercenary armies, and the invention of firearms allowed kings and princes to come to power once again.The knights, however, lost their professional status and merged with the nobility. 
The edifice of the castle changed in the late Middle Ages (15th and 16th centuries). Although it retained the image of a castle through its towers, it was in actuality a nobleman's residence. The towers disappeared from these residences in the 17th century and what was once a castle now looked no more than a country house. The only remnant of the past was the title 'castle' which such buildings bore.

The 19th century brought with it a renewed interest in the Middle Ages and the edifice of the castle changed once again.As a result of the Romantic Revival, symbolic towers were added to 17th and 18th century castles, and new buildings took the same style so they could also be called castles. 
The first world war put an end to the construction of castles but in Holland the relics of the past are of inestimable value in establishing a national identity by serving as a link to the past. 
Today approximately 40,000 castles, country houses, and other monumental buildings are protected under the Monuments and Historic Buildings Act in Holland. Some castles have been put to modern use as town halls, museums, or even schools. 

Types of Castles
Fortified 
The earliest castles were round and not used as habitations. This type of castle consisted of a square or rectangular tower mostly found in the northern provinces and Utrecht region. The few that are still standing date from the 14th century. Castle Ammersoyen is an example of this type of castle. 

Status 
The advent of sophisticated weapons and the relative peacefulness of daily life caused a change in the edifice of the castle. The lords of the castles wanted more room and light to cheer up the grim building.Thin walls and large windows were the result and castles were no longer primarily built for defense purposes.Castle Hoensbroek is an example of this type of castle.

Country Houses 
This type of 'castle' came about in the mid 17th century. Accent was shifted to severe, regular structures.Although the moats and forecourts remained, the towers disappeared. Castle Amerongen is an example of this type of castle. 
Romantic 
The fourth and final type of castle to appear in Holland were the Romantic castles built in the 19th and 20th centuries. This renewed interest in the Middle Ages resulted in the addition of towers to the 17th and 18th century built castles, and new castles were built in the style of the old. Castle The Haar is an example of this type of castle. 

20 Prominent castles and palaces 

Gelderland 

• Castle Ammersoyen
  Square turreted Middle Ages moated fortress full of original weapons and antiquities. 
  
• Castle The Cannenburgh
  Located in a park near Apeldoorn this 16th century castle is now furnished as a nobleman's home.Cafe-restaurant on grounds. 
  
• Castle Doornenburg
  An imposing moated castle with adjacent stables, courtyard, and cafe located between Arnhem and Nijmegen in Gelderland's river country. 
  
• Castle Doorwerth
  Practically on the banks of the lower Rhine, this 13th century castle houses a gourmet restaurant. 
  
• Castle Loevestein
  This castle with a moat dates back to the 14th century. 
  
• Palace The Loo
  The royal palace of the House of Orange since the 17th century is located in abeautiful wooden park outside Apeldoorn.It consists of Versailles style formal gardens, an imposing Royal Carriage Stall, and the palace itself is filled with paintings and furniture. 
  
  Groningen 
  
• Castle Menkemaborg
  Located on an inlet surrounded by lily ponds and gardens. Exquisite interiors and period furnishings. 
  
  Limburg 
  
• Castle Hoensbroek
  This battle-ready fortification near Maastricht is almost as large as The Haar, but more authentic looking as a moated castle. 
  
• Castle Neercanne
  This castle is located on a hillside near the Belgian border and is now a gourmet restaurant own wine storage caves. 
  
• Castle Neubourg
  A 17th century castle, is picturesquely situated in the valley of the Gulpdal River between Maastricht and Aachen. 
  
  Utrecht
  
• Castle Amerongen
  A restored 17th century castle near Utrecht filled with tapestries, porcelain, and period furniture. 
  
• House Doorn
  This is a 18th century manor house protected by a moat and became famous as exile residence of Kaiser Wilhelm II of Germany after World War II. 
  
• Castle The Haar
  The castle is furnished with porcelain and Chinese and Japanese art objects and Flemish tapestries. 
  
• Castle Sijpestein
  Located near Hilversum, this medieval castle museum loaded with arts and crafts of the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries. 
  
• Castle Zeist
  Handsome 17th century French style palace faces esplanade with townhouses once used by refugee Moravians. 
  
• Castle Zuylen
  Started in the 1300, it eventually became a 18th century country manor in the Vecht River area known for its gracious residences built for Amsterdam's merchant princes. Famous for its garden. 
  
  North Holland
  
• Muiderslot
  Probably Holland's most famous castle, located on the "Zuider Zee" near Amsterdam, at the mouth of the Vecht river. The castle was built in 1280 by order of Count Floris V and is almost square with round corner towers and a square gate house tower. It is a fully furnished museum, and has a charming little herb garden. 
  
• Castle Radboud
  Protected by the Zuider Zee colonial port of Medemblik.Medieval banquets are now served here. 
  
  South Holland 
  
• Castle Duivenvoorde
  This 18th century country manor near The Hague contains a valuable collection of antiques, furniture, and porcelain. 
  The Hague 
  
• Binnenhof and Hall of Knights
  Each September the Dutch Queen opens parliament in the Feudal Banquet Hall built by the Dukes of Holland in medieval times.