History of Huis te Boekhorst

Huis te Boekhorst was once a large and impressive castle. It stood in the middle of a pond and could be reached by a double drawbridge. The building featured a large central hall, several rooms and chambers, and rose to four storeys including its cellars. Inner and outer walls, fitted with a parapet and gun holes, allowed space for 16 pieces of artillery.

In a deed dated 12 January 1272, Count Floris V recorded that he had sold and granted as a fief the land commonly known as Boeckhorst to Baudino de Nortteke. Boudino, also known as Boudewijn, was a trusted associate of Floris V and was married to Aleidis, a relative of the count and daughter of Otto II, the Bishop of Utrecht.

From 1272 until 1645, Boekhorst remained in the hands of local noble families. In 1645, the house and its estate came into the possession of Willem van Bourgondië. Through his family, it later passed to the Princes of Rubenpré, who lived in Brussels. As the castle was increasingly neglected, it was demolished in 1743. For a long time, parts of a wall, a cellar and one of the gates still remained. The gate was the last part to be demolished, in 1903.

Did you know?
The name Boekhorst refers to a beech forest.
A cruciform church and several farms once stood around the castle.
The name Boekhorst still survives in many places in Noordwijkerhout today.

Photo: Castle Boekhorst, 1726, from the Schoemaker collection
Book available from the VVV in Noordwijkerhout.