Stoutenburg castle

Today's ''Stoutenburg Castle'' is a manor house, built in 1888 as a successor to a host of earlier fortresses.

William of Amersfoort

The first Kasteel van Stoutenburg was founded in 1259 by Willem van Amersfoort. It served to protect the border between the Count of Gelre and the Bishop of Utrecht.

Proud castle

However, it has never been home to a garrison. Its name means "Proud Castle".

Stoutenburg Castle I (1259 - 1600)

Stoutenburg estate near Leusden possesses a long history, as mentioned above. The history of the estate begins with a 13th-century episcopal castle that may have originated from an even older residential tower (=donjon) from the 11th century. In 1259, the castle was under construction. On 12 June 1259, the day Amersfoort received city rights from Bishop Hendrik I of Vianden, Walter (or Wouter), the lord of Amersfoort and sheriff of Eemland, settled at Stoutenburg. In exchange for the disposition of this castle, the then bishop of Utrecht granted city rights to Amersfoort, and the bishop used the castle to station warriors.

Franciscan Friars Minor

The religious order of the Franciscan Friars Minor bought the neglected house in 1948 and turned it into a monastery. The Franciscan Friars Minor left the building in late 1990 to make way for the community of the Franciscan Environmental Project, or 'Environmental Monastery'. That community left the castle at the end of September 2017.

Stoutenburg Castle gets a new destination. The monumental 1888 mansion on Stoutenburgerlaan will be converted into a care facility with 24 flats for elderly people with dementia.

Stoutenburg Castle has been bought by private care provider Wonen bij September. The renovation of the monumental building will start after the summer. The castle will have a living kitchen, several living rooms and 24 flats for the new residents. The so-called residential home for elderly people with dementia should open in December 2020.