Visit: Slot Loevestein

When:

15 June 2013

13:00 Hour - 16:00 Hour

Event organizer:Central region

Description

Slot Loevestein, more than just a museum!

Middeleeuwen

Around 1368, knight Dirc Loef van Horne had a castle built at a strategic location; where Maas and Waal merge and Gelderland, Brabant and South Holland meet, Slot Loevestein, the 'stone house of Loef', arose. The place was ideal for levying tolls on passing ships and that was exactly what happened! However, the strategic importance of Slot Loevestein soon became clear; so it was not long before the castle fell into the hands of the Counts of Holland. Jacoba of Bavaria was already using it to lock up her enemies...

State Prison

After extensive fortifications had been constructed in the 17th century, Slot Loevestein officially became the State Prison of the Netherlands. During the Twelve Year Truce in the Eighty Years' War, fierce internal strife broke out between Remonstrants and Counter-Remonstrants; a number of prominent followers of the former were sentenced 'to eternal imprisonment' and imprisoned at Loevestein. The most famous of these prisoners was the jurist Hugo de Groot or Grotius, founder of international law, who managed to escape from Loevestein in a book chest in 1621. This clever ruse gave Loevestein (inter)national fame.

More than a museum!

Today, Loevestein Castle is a national monument, museum and archaeological site! A visit to Loevestein means reliving the three main themes of the castle's illustrious past. The Middle Ages are narrated in the castle via screens by (virtual) castle residents themselves. On the second floor is De Erfenis: an exhibition with extensive focus on the State Prison, the ideas of Hugo de Groot and his fellow prisoners.

The fortress is one of the best preserved monuments from the Dutch Waterline. The earthen ramparts, double moats, Kruittoren, arsenal, commander's house, tavern and the street with soldiers' houses take you back centuries in time. One soldier's house is furnished as it was around 1750.

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There are limited participation places available. Op = Op and Vol = full.
Registration is possible until 5 June 2013

Start location:
Buiten de Waterpoort
End
Gorinchem

13:00 - Gather at the ferry
13:16 - Departure ferry to Loevestein
13:45 - Reception with coffee/tea
14:15 - Guided tour Slot Loevestein
15:15 - Networking Drink
16:15 - Scheduled end

Return by ferry.