Kasteel Coevorden

Coevorden is a small town in the south-east of Drenthe, close to the German border, and for most of its history it was a fortress. The location explains why. The town grew at a crossing of the river Vecht, where a firm route led through the great marshes and bogs of the region, linking the Dutch north with Germany. Whoever held the crossing controlled the road, and the castle that guarded it was fought over repeatedly. The name is generally explained as a ford, a place where cattle or travellers crossed the water, and the castle stands in the middle of the town where the old ford once lay.

The castle is often described as the only one in the province of Drenthe, a region better known for prehistoric tombs and heath than for noble houses. The present building goes back to the early fifteenth century, when the bishop of Utrecht, Frederik van Blankenheim, rebuilt the fortress in a form close to what survives. The bishops of Utrecht ruled much of the eastern Netherlands in the Middle Ages, and a strong castle at Coevorden secured their hold on the border. In the following centuries, the site was besieged, damaged and rebuilt many times, as the fortress changed hands during the Eighty Years' War and the later conflicts of the seventeenth century.

Around the castle, Coevorden was developed as a fortified town, with ramparts and bastions designed by military engineers. Traces of the star-shaped defences can still be seen in the layout of the streets and in the green belt that follows the line of the old walls. In the seventeenth century the Dutch Republic invested in making the town secure. Later, with the changing military technology, the fortress lost its importance and the walls were levelled in part.

Today the castle is used as a hotel and restaurant, the Chateauhotel Kasteel Coevorden, and also hosts weddings and events. Guests can stay in historic rooms or dine in the restaurant, which gives access to the atmosphere of the interior, and the exterior and the grounds can be admired by anyone passing. For historical detail, a visit to the town's museum or tourist office provides more.

The castle suits history lovers, couples looking for an unusual stay and travellers passing through Drenthe. A look at the castle and a stroll through the old centre take an hour. Coevorden is reached by train from Zwolle and Emmen, and the surrounding countryside is excellent for cycling.