This is an incomplete list of
Dutch Republic villages,
country houses and
castles, that were destroyed or seriously damaged by
French troops in 1672/1673 during the
Rampjaar (Disaster Year)[1][2] in the
Franco-Dutch War. (This list was compiled from enumerations in the literature - please refer to the footnotes and the bibliography below.) In this Guerre de Hollande the strategy of the troops of the French king
Louis XIV was "to burn as much as possible. You should burn down entire villages", wrote the French army general
Louvois to his
intendant.[3] Some castles have disappeared completely,[4] others are still there as a ruin or were rebuilt and still exist in some later version. However,
Valkenburg Castle in
Valkenburg aan de Geul was not destroyed by French troops but was blown up by
stadholderWilliam III after he had expelled the French troops in 1672,[5] to prevent a repeat occupation by the French. It was never rebuilt.
Destroyed or damaged villages
In 1672/1673 French troops damaged and destroyed not only castles, but also villages, which were depicted by Isaac Sorious in 1672-1676 in a thematic series of etchings:
Abcoude was burned on 6 November 1672.[6][7] Etching by Isaac Sorious: Abcoude, verwoest door de Fransen in 1672, 1672 - 1676,
Rijksmuseum.[8]
Nigtevecht, also Nichtevecht, was destroyed nearly completely on 21 April 1673,[15] leaving only a stump.. of the church tower and the house of the schoolmaster.[6][16][17] Etching by Isaac Sorious: Nigtevecht, verwoest door de Fransen in 1672, 1672 - 1676, Rijksmuseum.[8]
Overmeer near
Nederhorst den Berg. Etching by Isaac Sorious: Overmeer, verwoest door de Fransen in 1672, 1672 - 1676, Rijksmuseum.[8][18]
Vreeswijk was damaged two times with a short interval in early October 1672 and the church was destroyed.[19] Etching by Isaac Sorious: Vreeswyk of de Vaart by Vianen, verwoeste brug en gebouwen, 1672 - 1676, Rijksmuseum.[8][18]
Waverveen was destroyed. Etching by Isaac Sorious: Waverveen, verwoest door de Fransen in 1672, 1672 - 1676, Rijksmuseum.[8][18]
? Rodestein or Royestein between Huis Amerongen and Wayestein, was destroyed in 1672 by the French according to van der Aa[28] but this is disputed.[29]
Asperen, Wadestein was destroyed by French troops in 1672.[31]
B
Baambrugge, Rijksstraatweg 147, Valckenheining (Valck en Heining) on
Angstel River. The French destroyed in 1672 at least one of the homesteads of the Valckenier family, according to the book Het ontroerde Nederlandt (1674). The family built Valckenheining on the location of the former homestead.
Balgoij, Huis Balgoij, gemeente
Wijchen. French troops destroyed this house in 1672, leaving still extant remains underground.[32]
Brakel,
w:nl:Kasteel Brakel (in Dutch), blown up on 11 September 1672 by French troops after non-payment of the levy under threat of fire and was never rebuilt, a ruin.[33][34]
Aastein was destroyed by the French in 1672. Aastein was located near the farmhouse Uilenvlucht and is sometimes mistaken for the homesteads Huis Ter Aa and Over de Aa (Clarenborg), both in Breukelen.[35][36][37]
w:nl:Kasteel Nijenrode (in Dutch), Huis Nyenrode, (largely) destroyed on 6 and 7 September 1673. The French headquarters was established here and farmers had to pull over a stone wall for protection of the castle.[44][45][9][46][47][48][6] Etching by Isaac Sorious: Huis te Nieuwenrode, verwoest door de Fransen in 1672.[8]
Vegtvliet or Vechtvliet, Rijksstraatweg 220, owned by the Amsterdam merchant Willem van den Broeck, when the French left in 1673[59][60] Etching by J. Sorious Het huis van de Heer vanden Broek, verwoest door de Fransen in 1672[8] in part II of Het ontroerde Nederlandt (1676).
w:nl:Vreedenoord (in Dutch) or Vredenoord, Straatweg 68. A farmhouse was set on fire in 1672 by the French. At the same location Vredenoord was erected.[62]
Herwijnen, Huis te Herwijnen, is not identical to
w:nl:Kasteel Wayenstein (in Dutch) or Wadesteyn, but is the same as "Frissesteyn / Frissestijn", was destroyed or severely damaged by French in 1672.[82][83][84] The area of the former castle is a national monument.[85]
Hoevelaken. The fortress Huis te Hoevelaken was destroyed by fire in 1672. Thereafter twice a new House Hoevelaken was erected elsewhere in municipality.[86]
former
Castle Kronenburg (in Dutch) of Cronenburg(h), Rijksstraatweg 84. Occupied in 1672 by 200 Dutch State soldiers, but due to the great force majeure and lack of ammunition, they had to surrender to the French army of 1500 men led by the Duke of Luxembourg. After this, the French occupied the castle for two months and it was only partly dismantled, because the Dutch lord of the castle was a Catholic.[91] In September 1673, the round main tower was blown up with gunpowder.[92][93][94][95][96]
Nieuwerhoek, Rijksstraatweg 78, heavily damaged in the French siege of Kronenburg.[97]
Lopik, Huis te Jaarsveld or Veldenstein, just outside the village of
Jaarsveld was pillaged in 1673 by French troops and set on fire.[98]
Ridderhofstad Ter Meer (in Dutch), also known as Slot te Maarssen, Termeer, Zuylenburg, a former castle. It was plundered on 12 December 1672 by the French and burned completely. Rebuilt in 1710 at the same spot.[105][106][107][108][109][110]
Maasbommel, Bommel Castle, Kasteel Bommel, also Hof te Bommel, and Het Hoge Huis. In 1674 French troops burned it leaving a ruin, drawn in the 18th century by
Abraham Rademaker. The damage was estimated at
Dutch guilder fl. 124.140: furnitures, sheds, meubilair, schuren, "150 fat sheep, 4 fair horses, two cows, burnt the corn- or windmill".[111] A small house was built on the site of the castle in the mid-eighteenth century, later converted into a farm 't Hof.[112]
Montfoort,
w:nl:Kasteel Montfoort (in Dutch), Montfoort Castle. French troops destroyed the main castle in 1672. On November 6, 1672, the upper walls of the castle were demolished and on November 7, 1672, the tower was blown up by French troops when they withdrew fleeing for the troops of Stadtholder William III. The gate, the 'voorburcht', is still there.[115][116][117]
Nieuwersluis, Weeresteyn, Zandpad 29, was built around 1700 on the location of a fortified country house or castle that was probably destroyed by the French in 1672–1673.[126]
Nagelhorst, Kasteelsestraat 10, was for the larger part destroyed in 1672.[127]
Overasselt. "Adelijcke havesaet" and "kasteel" (Huis te) Overasselt (House at Overasselt), north of the street Hoogstraat, was set on fire by the French on 1 May 1672 and was probably never rebuilt.[128]
Vuren. "Thuys te Vuyren" (House at Vuyren) in municipality
West Betuwe was destroyed by French troops in 1672.[133]
W
Wageningen,
w:nl:Kasteel van Wageningen, Wageeningen Castle. French troops probably destroyed most of this castle in 1672. There are indications that walls have been blown up. All the towers, the gatehouse, the building along the east wall and the castle moat have disappeared on a map of 1722 .[134][135][136]
Country house of the Lord van de Weert. Etching by Isaac Sorious, 1672 - 1676: Huis van de Heer vande Weert, verwoest door de Fransen in 1672, 1672 - 1676, Rijksmuseum.[8][18]
Country house Huis Kroonwyck of Mr. Pauw. Etching by Isaac Sorious: Het Huis Kroon-wyck van de heer Pauw, verwoest door de Fransen in 1672, 1672 - 1676, Rijksmuseum.[8][18] Is the same as
w:nl:Cromwijck (in Dutch)?
Spiegel der France Tirannye gepleechd opde Hollantsche dorpen, Mirror of the French tiranny against villages in Holland, 1673. The Museum of Fine Arts Houston
Oorlog en tirannie teisteren Nederland. War and tyranny rage in the Netherlands, 1674. Rijksmuseum
Franse invasie en verbreking van de eenheid van de Unie, The French invasion and the breach of the Union, 1674. Rijksmuseum.
Isaac Sorious: Destroyed villages and castles in Utrecht province in 1672, 1672-1676[8]
Abcoude
't Slot te Breukelen
't Slot te Iaarsveldt
The Sconce near Jutphaas
't Slot te Kroonen-borgh
Ruïns of Nigtevecht village
t' Huys te Niewen rode
Overmeer
Vreeswyk of de Vaart by Vianen, a destroyed bridge with buildings
Waverveen
't Huys vande Heer vande Weert (country house of the Lord vande Weert)
t Huys Kroon-wyck van 'd Heer Pauw, country house Kroon-wyck owned by Mr. Pauw
Saved country estates and fortresses
Some country estates, castles but also fortresses were saved from destruction by the French in 1672, including
Breukelen,
w:nl:Ridderhofstad Oudaan or Oudaen at Zandpad: in 1672 the French destroyed the village of Breukelen, but this castle was spared because the inhabitants, the van der Burch family, were Catholic and the French general
Louis, Grand Condé himself took up residence there.[9][138][139][140]
Leersum:
w:nl:Huis Zuylenstein (in Dutch), also Zuylestein, saved by interference by stadtholder William III of England. This castle was only later destroyed in
World War II, by allied aircraft.[145][146]
Voorst,
w:nl:Kasteel Nijenbeek (in Dutch). In 1673, squire Johan Thomas van Steenbergen received an exemption ("sauve-garde") from the French general the Duke of Limburg.[153]
Wijk bij Duurstede,
w:nl:Kasteel Duurstede, Duurstede Castle, was saved during the French occupation in 1672-1674. The French commander mistook the castle for the home of the likeable mayor of Wijk bij Duurstede.[154][155]
Dutch and French language literature
17th century
van Domselaer, Tobias,
de Hooghe, Romeyn et al.: Het ontroerde Nederlandt door de wapenen des konings van Vrankryk, dat is Een waarachtigh verhaal van den Fransen, Engelsen, Keulsen en Munstersen oorlogh, tegen de Vereenigde Nederlanden, met desselfs binnelandtse beroerten, daer in naukeuriglijk alle der zelver voorvallen worden verhandelt, Markus Willemsz. Doornik, Amsterdam, 1674, 1676
Advis fidelle aux veritables Hollandois. Touchant ce qui s'est passé dans les villages de Bodegrave & Swammerdam, & les cruautés inoüies, que les François y ont exercées. Avec un memoire de la derniere marche de l'Armée du Roy de France en Brabant & en Flandre, [Den Haag], [Daniel en Johannes Steucker], 1673, 202 p. Illustraties Romeyn de Hooghe. Facsimile reprint: Kessinger Publishing, LLC, 2010, 236 p.
ISBN978-1166458713.
Illustrations on Wikimedia Commons.
Getrouw advys aen de oprechte Hollanders; rakende hetgeen gepasseert is in de dorpen van Bodegrave en Swammerdam, en de ongehoorde wreedtheden, die de Fransen aldaer gepleeght hebben; met een memorie van den koning van Vranckrijck door Brabant en Vlaanderen, [Den Haag], 1674, 317 pagina's.
Pdf at Wikimedia Commons.[156]
Journael, of dagelijcksch verhael van de handel der Franschen in de steden van Uytrecht en Woerden, sedert hun koomst daer binnen, tot aan hun vertrek: daer in hun gruwelijcke wreetheyt en tyrannie, in dese twee plaetsen, gelijck oock in verscheyde andere, T'Amsterdam : by Jan Claesz. ten Hoorn, Amsterdam 1674.[157][158]
19th century
Craandijk, J.: Wandelingen door Nederland, Haarlem 1883 2e druk
De Rijk, J. A.: Wandelingen door Gooi- en Eemland en omstreken, Arnhem 1967. Oorspronkelijk verschenen in De Gooi- en Eemlander, 1881, reprint 1905
20th century
Blankenberg, Huub and Taselaar, Klaas: Historisch reisboek voor Nederland, Fibula-Van Dishoeck Bussum, Unieboek B.V. Bussum, 1983,
ISBN9022836126
Klok, R. H. J.: Archeologisch reisboek voor Nederland, Fibula-Van Dishoeck Haarlem, Unieboek B.V. Bussum, 1977,
ISBN9789022836163
Munnig Schmidt, E. and Lisman, A. J. A. M., met tekeningen van Schut, C. J. Th: Plaatsen aan de Vecht en de Angstel, Canaletto, Alphen aan de Rijn, 1993,
ISBN906469611X
Olde Meierink, Ben et al.: Kastelen en ridderhofsteden in Utrecht, Uitgeverij Matrijs, Utrecht, 1995,
ISBN9789053450727
Wilmer, C. C. S.: Buitens binnen Utrecht, Kwadraat, 1982,
ISBN9789064812019
21st century
Fafianie, Ton, Rijntjes, R., van der Wiel, Manon, and editor Stades-Visscher, Elisabeth: Nieuwegein Geschiedenis en architectuur. Monumenteninventarisatie Utrecht, Zeist 2002,
ISBN9789067202893
Jas, J., Keverling Buisman, F., Storms-Smeets, E., te Stroete, A., Wingens, M., editor Vredenberg, J.: Kastelen in Gelderland, Uitgeverij Matrijs, 2013,
ISBN978-90-5345-410-7
Mansel, Philip: Lodewijk XIV. Koning van de wereld, Spectrum, 2019. Translation of King of the World: the Life of Louis XIV, Penguin, 2019
ISBN9789000370481
Munnig Schmidt, E. and Jonker-Duynstee, J. J. A. M.: Vechtgids. Culturele gids van de Vechtstreek, Oudheidkundig Genootschap Niftarlake, 2012,
ISBN9789087042752
van Nimwegen, Olaf: De Veertigjarige oorlog 1672-1712, Prometheus Amsterdam, 2019,
ISBN9789044638714
Panhuysen, Luc:
Oranje tegen de Zonnekoning : De strijd van Willem III en Lodewijk XIV om Europa, Atlas Contact, Amsterdam/Antwerpen, 2016,
ISBN978-9045036298
Rampjaar 1672. Hoe de Republiek aan de ondergang ontsnapte, Olympus, 2019,
ISBN9789046707319
Op de Beeck, Johan: De zonnekoning. Glorie & schaduw van Lodewijk XIV, Horizon, 2018,
ISBN978-9492626172
References
^Panhuysen, Luc: Rampjaar 1672. Hoe de Republiek aan de ondergang ontsnapte, Olympus, 2019.
^Mansel 2019, p. 226, 229-230. However,
Louis, Grand Condé warned King Louis XIV for the "brutal disgust we have brought upon ourselves" by the actions of French troops in the Netherlands.
^van Nimwegen 2019, p. 83. "Lodewijk XIV zelf kan het bloedbad in de Hollandse dorpen niet worden aangerekend. Anders ligt dit echter bij de stelselmatige verwoesting van landhuizen, landstreken en zelfs steden waartoe de Zonnekoning gericht opdracht gaf." Translation: "Louis XIV himself cannot be blamed for the massacre in the Dutch villages. The situation is different, however, with the systematic destruction of manors, regions and even cities, directed by the Sun King. "
^Blankenberg and Taselaar 1983, p. 274: "In 1672 werd hij [Kasteel Valkenburg] door troepen van stadhouder Willem III verwoest, nadat deze het kasteel op de Fransen hadden heroverd."
^
abKlok 1977, p. 184: "De Fransen hadden op 6 november 1672 reeds het dorp Abcoude in brand gestoken en kwamen op 30 november terug". Klok cites an unspecified description by "Mr. Breuninghoff, around 1860 head schoolmaster of Abcoude":.. om het nog staande gedeelte in de asch te leggen, bood de bezetting van het slot, die inmiddels versterking bekomen had, zoo veel tegenweer, dat de vijand genoodzaakt was, met achterlating van verscheidene gevangenen, onverrichter zake terug te keeren."
^The 13th-century church was largely destroyed by French troops. After being rebuilt the church was reopened in 1677. Munnig Schmidt and Lisman 1993, p. 200
^Destroyed by 600 French troops, leaving only the house of the schoolmaster intact, now near the Dutch Protestant church. Munnig-Schmidt 2012, p. 149
^
abcdeTobias van Domselaer, Romeyn de Hooghe et al.: Het ontroerde Nederlandt door de wapenen des konings van Vrankryk, dat is Een waarachtigh verhaal van den Fransen, Engelsen, Keulsen en Munstersen oorlogh, tegen de Vereenigde Nederlanden, met desselfs binnelandtse beroerten, daer in naukeuriglijk alle der zelver voorvallen worden verhandelt, Markus Willemsz. Doornik, Amsterdam, 1674, 1676
^There was a French fortification with an inner and an outer wall and a palissade on formerly ... unbroken ground tevoren onbebouwd ground, which in 2002 was called Raadhuisplein. Fafiani 2002 p. 45
^The castle was lit by putting straw fagots against it, which local farmers had to supply to the French troops. The castle burned for two days. Panhuysen 2019, p. 306.
^kasteleninutrecht.eu Amerongen. Consulted on 14 November 2020. Ontleend aan Ben Olde Meijering (red.): Kastelen en ridderhofsteden in Utrecht, 1995
^van Nimwegen 2019, p.83. Destroyed by special order of Louis XIV, who suspected the owner Van Reede of inciting German and Nordic princes against France.
^A. A. van der Aa, Aardrijkskundig woordenboek der Nederlanden IX, Gorinchem 1847, p. 575.
^Appendix, in Olde Meierink, Ben et al., 1995, p. 536.
^Wilfried Ahoud: Appeltern, in Jas, J., Keverling Buisman, F., Storms-Smeets, E., te Stroete, A., Wingens, M.: Kastelen in Gelderland, Uitgeverij Matrijs, 2013,
ISBN978-90-5345-410-7, p. 478-479.
^Wim Kattenberg: Balgoij, in Jas et al. 2013, p. 499
^monumentenregister.cultureelerfgoed.nl Complexnummer: 528825. Quote from the file "complex (pdf)": The end came in 1672 when French troops blew the castle up for non-payment of the levy under threat of fire. It was never rebuilt. Consulted on 14 November 2020.
^Taco Hermans: Middeleeuwse woontorens in Nederland. De bouwhistorische benadering van een kasteelvorm, 2016, p. 13-15
^In 1673 blown up by the French. Blankenberg and Taselaar 1983, p. 138
^On departure the French set the castle on fire and blew up the castle tower leaving a ruin, but in 1680-1681 the castle was rebuilt. Munnig Schmidt and Lisman 1993, p. 13-14 en 96
^After recapture of Naarden by Dutch Staatse troops, the French demolished Gunterstein leaving a ruin. Kees Hensbergen: Gunterstein, in Olde Meierink, Ben et al., 1995, p. 212-217, on p. 213.
^Munnig Schmidt and Lisman 1993, p. 13 and 86: Swiss mercenaries in French service burned Kasteel Nijenrode down on 7 September 1673.
^Swiss troops employed by the French blew up the high tower on 6 September 1673 and set fire to the other parts of the castle, which was largely burnt down as a result. Taco Hermans: Nijenrode, in Olde Meierink, Ben et al., 1995, p. 341-346, on p. 342.
^Nico van der Woude: Oud-Amelisweerd, in Olde Meierink, Ben et al., 1995, p. 102-107, on p. 103. Did the castle still exist at the time, what was it precisely that the French demolished? There are no known drawings from the 17th century, p. 105
^Located along the Vleutense Rijn a few kilometers north of the village proper. Jaap Renaud: Harmelen, in Olde Meierink, Ben et al., 1995, p. 237-241 on p. 238.
^monumentenregister.cultureelerfgoed.nl Huis te Jaarsveld Complexnummer: 511206. Quote:"Het kasteel werd in 1673 verwoest door de Fransen en niet weer herbouwd. Een beschrijving uit 1683 noemt 'de vermaerde hoge en vrije heerlyckheyt van Jaersvelt, bestaende uit een vervallen sloth, leggende in sijne dubbele grachten, den duyventoren, thuymanshuys'." Consulted on 21 November 2020.
^Jan Harenberg: Tolhuis, in Jas et al., 2013, p. 440
^Taco Hermans en Elisabeth de Ligt: Kronenburg, in Olde Meierink, Ben et al., 1995, p. 269-273, on p. 270.
^Restored in 1680. Munnig Schmidt and Lisman 1993, p. 132
^van der Aa: Aardrijkskundig Woordenboek der Nederlanden, Zesde deel I-K, januari 1846 J. Noorduyn, artikel Kranendonk (Huis-Te-) p. 635. Quote: "De Fransen deden het, den 16 September 1673, in de lucht springen."
books.google.nl. Consulted on 21 November 2020.
^Vogelzang, Fred: Ridderhofsteden in Utrecht. De veranderende betekenis van een adellijk symbool, pp. 372-383 in Gietman, Conrad: Adelsgeschiedenis 15 - Huis en habitus over kastelen, buitenplaatsen en notabele levensvormen, Uitgeverij Verloren B.V., 2017, on p. 378
^Huis Termeer was plundered and burnt down on 12 December 1672. Craandijk 1883, p. 91
^Ter Meer was located on the Julianaweg, Maarssen, and was destroyed by the French on December 12, 1672. The ruins were not cleared until the early 18th century. Douwe Koen: Ter Meer, in Olde Meierink, Ben et al., 1995, p. 306-309
^John Raggers: De geschiedenis van Het Hof, een poging tot reconstructie, februari 2020. Stichting Historisch Maasbommel.
PDF www.hanzestadmaasbommel.info.
^Tijmen Pranger: Maasbommel, in Jas, J., Keverling Buisman, F., Storms-Smeets, E., te Stroete, A., Wingens, M.: Kastelen in Gelderland, Uitgeverij Matrijs, 2013,
ISBN978-90-5345-410-7, p. 483.
^Marjan Witteveen: Well, in Jas et al. 2013, p. 322
^Jan Vredenberg: Millingen, p. 324 in Jas et al., 2013
^The French general Condé had a fortress, a 'schans', built at the newly built Doorslagsluis lock from 1671 to protect Utrecht. But the effective functioning of the
Dutch Water Line during the Disaster Year could be sabotaged by allowing water to drain from the flooded area between Jutphaas and IJsselstein in the years 1672-1674 via the Doorslagsluis. French soldiers were stationed here until the end of 1673.
www.pen.nl De Doorslagsluis in Jutphaas, 6 januari 2013 (in Dutch). Consulted on 14 November 2020.
^Isaac Sorious included an etching of this sconce in his series depicting the destruction by the French in 1672, entitled De schans aen Iutfaes, 1672 - 1676, Rijksmuseum. This etching is described by Rijksmuseum as De schans bij Jutphaas, verwoest door de Fransen in 1672 (The sconce near Jutphas, destroyed by the French in 1672).
^Luuk Keunen: Wageningen, in Jorien Jas (eindredacteur), Kastelen in Gelderland, Uitgeverij Matrijs, Utrecht 2013, p. 474-477.
^Jaap Renaud: Abcoude, in Olde Meierink, Ben et al., 1995, p. 98-101, p.98
^Saved because it was the headquarters of the French commander or because bribes were paid. Munnig Schmidt and Lisman 1993, p. 82
^Ineke Dukes-Greup: Oudaen, in Olde Meierink, Ben et al., 1995, p. 351-355, on p. 352.
^Munnig Schmidt and Jonker-Duynstee 2012, p. 55-56
^Blankenberg and Taselaar 1983, p. 110: "Omdat het slot in 1672 eigendom van een Deens edelman was geworden, werd het door de troepen van Louvois ontzien.", "Because the castle had become the property of a Danish nobleman in 1672, it was spared by the troops of Louvois."
^Tolien Wilmer: Keppel, p. 153 in Jas et al., 2013
^www.kasteleninutrecht.eu Zuilenstein. Consulted on 16 November 2020. Citaat: "Dan volgt het rampjaar 1672, maar Zuilenstein blijft gespaard voor de vernielingen van de Fransen, doordat stadhouder Willem III er zich persoonlijk mee bemoeide".
^www.slotzuylen.nl Geschiedenis van Slot Zuylen. Consulted on 9 November 2020. "Door goede contacten bleef het gespaard in het rampjaar 1672, toen menig ander kasteel door de Fransen werd verwoest."
^Evert de Jonge: Nijenbeek, in Jas et al. 2013, p. 468.
^Saved by a French commander with the withdrawal of the French troops. Jaap Renaud: Duurstede, in Olde Meierink, Ben et al., 1995, p. 180-186, on p. 182.
This is an incomplete list of
Dutch Republic villages,
country houses and
castles, that were destroyed or seriously damaged by
French troops in 1672/1673 during the
Rampjaar (Disaster Year)[1][2] in the
Franco-Dutch War. (This list was compiled from enumerations in the literature - please refer to the footnotes and the bibliography below.) In this Guerre de Hollande the strategy of the troops of the French king
Louis XIV was "to burn as much as possible. You should burn down entire villages", wrote the French army general
Louvois to his
intendant.[3] Some castles have disappeared completely,[4] others are still there as a ruin or were rebuilt and still exist in some later version. However,
Valkenburg Castle in
Valkenburg aan de Geul was not destroyed by French troops but was blown up by
stadholderWilliam III after he had expelled the French troops in 1672,[5] to prevent a repeat occupation by the French. It was never rebuilt.
Destroyed or damaged villages
In 1672/1673 French troops damaged and destroyed not only castles, but also villages, which were depicted by Isaac Sorious in 1672-1676 in a thematic series of etchings:
Abcoude was burned on 6 November 1672.[6][7] Etching by Isaac Sorious: Abcoude, verwoest door de Fransen in 1672, 1672 - 1676,
Rijksmuseum.[8]
Nigtevecht, also Nichtevecht, was destroyed nearly completely on 21 April 1673,[15] leaving only a stump.. of the church tower and the house of the schoolmaster.[6][16][17] Etching by Isaac Sorious: Nigtevecht, verwoest door de Fransen in 1672, 1672 - 1676, Rijksmuseum.[8]
Overmeer near
Nederhorst den Berg. Etching by Isaac Sorious: Overmeer, verwoest door de Fransen in 1672, 1672 - 1676, Rijksmuseum.[8][18]
Vreeswijk was damaged two times with a short interval in early October 1672 and the church was destroyed.[19] Etching by Isaac Sorious: Vreeswyk of de Vaart by Vianen, verwoeste brug en gebouwen, 1672 - 1676, Rijksmuseum.[8][18]
Waverveen was destroyed. Etching by Isaac Sorious: Waverveen, verwoest door de Fransen in 1672, 1672 - 1676, Rijksmuseum.[8][18]
? Rodestein or Royestein between Huis Amerongen and Wayestein, was destroyed in 1672 by the French according to van der Aa[28] but this is disputed.[29]
Asperen, Wadestein was destroyed by French troops in 1672.[31]
B
Baambrugge, Rijksstraatweg 147, Valckenheining (Valck en Heining) on
Angstel River. The French destroyed in 1672 at least one of the homesteads of the Valckenier family, according to the book Het ontroerde Nederlandt (1674). The family built Valckenheining on the location of the former homestead.
Balgoij, Huis Balgoij, gemeente
Wijchen. French troops destroyed this house in 1672, leaving still extant remains underground.[32]
Brakel,
w:nl:Kasteel Brakel (in Dutch), blown up on 11 September 1672 by French troops after non-payment of the levy under threat of fire and was never rebuilt, a ruin.[33][34]
Aastein was destroyed by the French in 1672. Aastein was located near the farmhouse Uilenvlucht and is sometimes mistaken for the homesteads Huis Ter Aa and Over de Aa (Clarenborg), both in Breukelen.[35][36][37]
w:nl:Kasteel Nijenrode (in Dutch), Huis Nyenrode, (largely) destroyed on 6 and 7 September 1673. The French headquarters was established here and farmers had to pull over a stone wall for protection of the castle.[44][45][9][46][47][48][6] Etching by Isaac Sorious: Huis te Nieuwenrode, verwoest door de Fransen in 1672.[8]
Vegtvliet or Vechtvliet, Rijksstraatweg 220, owned by the Amsterdam merchant Willem van den Broeck, when the French left in 1673[59][60] Etching by J. Sorious Het huis van de Heer vanden Broek, verwoest door de Fransen in 1672[8] in part II of Het ontroerde Nederlandt (1676).
w:nl:Vreedenoord (in Dutch) or Vredenoord, Straatweg 68. A farmhouse was set on fire in 1672 by the French. At the same location Vredenoord was erected.[62]
Herwijnen, Huis te Herwijnen, is not identical to
w:nl:Kasteel Wayenstein (in Dutch) or Wadesteyn, but is the same as "Frissesteyn / Frissestijn", was destroyed or severely damaged by French in 1672.[82][83][84] The area of the former castle is a national monument.[85]
Hoevelaken. The fortress Huis te Hoevelaken was destroyed by fire in 1672. Thereafter twice a new House Hoevelaken was erected elsewhere in municipality.[86]
former
Castle Kronenburg (in Dutch) of Cronenburg(h), Rijksstraatweg 84. Occupied in 1672 by 200 Dutch State soldiers, but due to the great force majeure and lack of ammunition, they had to surrender to the French army of 1500 men led by the Duke of Luxembourg. After this, the French occupied the castle for two months and it was only partly dismantled, because the Dutch lord of the castle was a Catholic.[91] In September 1673, the round main tower was blown up with gunpowder.[92][93][94][95][96]
Nieuwerhoek, Rijksstraatweg 78, heavily damaged in the French siege of Kronenburg.[97]
Lopik, Huis te Jaarsveld or Veldenstein, just outside the village of
Jaarsveld was pillaged in 1673 by French troops and set on fire.[98]
Ridderhofstad Ter Meer (in Dutch), also known as Slot te Maarssen, Termeer, Zuylenburg, a former castle. It was plundered on 12 December 1672 by the French and burned completely. Rebuilt in 1710 at the same spot.[105][106][107][108][109][110]
Maasbommel, Bommel Castle, Kasteel Bommel, also Hof te Bommel, and Het Hoge Huis. In 1674 French troops burned it leaving a ruin, drawn in the 18th century by
Abraham Rademaker. The damage was estimated at
Dutch guilder fl. 124.140: furnitures, sheds, meubilair, schuren, "150 fat sheep, 4 fair horses, two cows, burnt the corn- or windmill".[111] A small house was built on the site of the castle in the mid-eighteenth century, later converted into a farm 't Hof.[112]
Montfoort,
w:nl:Kasteel Montfoort (in Dutch), Montfoort Castle. French troops destroyed the main castle in 1672. On November 6, 1672, the upper walls of the castle were demolished and on November 7, 1672, the tower was blown up by French troops when they withdrew fleeing for the troops of Stadtholder William III. The gate, the 'voorburcht', is still there.[115][116][117]
Nieuwersluis, Weeresteyn, Zandpad 29, was built around 1700 on the location of a fortified country house or castle that was probably destroyed by the French in 1672–1673.[126]
Nagelhorst, Kasteelsestraat 10, was for the larger part destroyed in 1672.[127]
Overasselt. "Adelijcke havesaet" and "kasteel" (Huis te) Overasselt (House at Overasselt), north of the street Hoogstraat, was set on fire by the French on 1 May 1672 and was probably never rebuilt.[128]
Vuren. "Thuys te Vuyren" (House at Vuyren) in municipality
West Betuwe was destroyed by French troops in 1672.[133]
W
Wageningen,
w:nl:Kasteel van Wageningen, Wageeningen Castle. French troops probably destroyed most of this castle in 1672. There are indications that walls have been blown up. All the towers, the gatehouse, the building along the east wall and the castle moat have disappeared on a map of 1722 .[134][135][136]
Country house of the Lord van de Weert. Etching by Isaac Sorious, 1672 - 1676: Huis van de Heer vande Weert, verwoest door de Fransen in 1672, 1672 - 1676, Rijksmuseum.[8][18]
Country house Huis Kroonwyck of Mr. Pauw. Etching by Isaac Sorious: Het Huis Kroon-wyck van de heer Pauw, verwoest door de Fransen in 1672, 1672 - 1676, Rijksmuseum.[8][18] Is the same as
w:nl:Cromwijck (in Dutch)?
Spiegel der France Tirannye gepleechd opde Hollantsche dorpen, Mirror of the French tiranny against villages in Holland, 1673. The Museum of Fine Arts Houston
Oorlog en tirannie teisteren Nederland. War and tyranny rage in the Netherlands, 1674. Rijksmuseum
Franse invasie en verbreking van de eenheid van de Unie, The French invasion and the breach of the Union, 1674. Rijksmuseum.
Isaac Sorious: Destroyed villages and castles in Utrecht province in 1672, 1672-1676[8]
Abcoude
't Slot te Breukelen
't Slot te Iaarsveldt
The Sconce near Jutphaas
't Slot te Kroonen-borgh
Ruïns of Nigtevecht village
t' Huys te Niewen rode
Overmeer
Vreeswyk of de Vaart by Vianen, a destroyed bridge with buildings
Waverveen
't Huys vande Heer vande Weert (country house of the Lord vande Weert)
t Huys Kroon-wyck van 'd Heer Pauw, country house Kroon-wyck owned by Mr. Pauw
Saved country estates and fortresses
Some country estates, castles but also fortresses were saved from destruction by the French in 1672, including
Breukelen,
w:nl:Ridderhofstad Oudaan or Oudaen at Zandpad: in 1672 the French destroyed the village of Breukelen, but this castle was spared because the inhabitants, the van der Burch family, were Catholic and the French general
Louis, Grand Condé himself took up residence there.[9][138][139][140]
Leersum:
w:nl:Huis Zuylenstein (in Dutch), also Zuylestein, saved by interference by stadtholder William III of England. This castle was only later destroyed in
World War II, by allied aircraft.[145][146]
Voorst,
w:nl:Kasteel Nijenbeek (in Dutch). In 1673, squire Johan Thomas van Steenbergen received an exemption ("sauve-garde") from the French general the Duke of Limburg.[153]
Wijk bij Duurstede,
w:nl:Kasteel Duurstede, Duurstede Castle, was saved during the French occupation in 1672-1674. The French commander mistook the castle for the home of the likeable mayor of Wijk bij Duurstede.[154][155]
Dutch and French language literature
17th century
van Domselaer, Tobias,
de Hooghe, Romeyn et al.: Het ontroerde Nederlandt door de wapenen des konings van Vrankryk, dat is Een waarachtigh verhaal van den Fransen, Engelsen, Keulsen en Munstersen oorlogh, tegen de Vereenigde Nederlanden, met desselfs binnelandtse beroerten, daer in naukeuriglijk alle der zelver voorvallen worden verhandelt, Markus Willemsz. Doornik, Amsterdam, 1674, 1676
Advis fidelle aux veritables Hollandois. Touchant ce qui s'est passé dans les villages de Bodegrave & Swammerdam, & les cruautés inoüies, que les François y ont exercées. Avec un memoire de la derniere marche de l'Armée du Roy de France en Brabant & en Flandre, [Den Haag], [Daniel en Johannes Steucker], 1673, 202 p. Illustraties Romeyn de Hooghe. Facsimile reprint: Kessinger Publishing, LLC, 2010, 236 p.
ISBN978-1166458713.
Illustrations on Wikimedia Commons.
Getrouw advys aen de oprechte Hollanders; rakende hetgeen gepasseert is in de dorpen van Bodegrave en Swammerdam, en de ongehoorde wreedtheden, die de Fransen aldaer gepleeght hebben; met een memorie van den koning van Vranckrijck door Brabant en Vlaanderen, [Den Haag], 1674, 317 pagina's.
Pdf at Wikimedia Commons.[156]
Journael, of dagelijcksch verhael van de handel der Franschen in de steden van Uytrecht en Woerden, sedert hun koomst daer binnen, tot aan hun vertrek: daer in hun gruwelijcke wreetheyt en tyrannie, in dese twee plaetsen, gelijck oock in verscheyde andere, T'Amsterdam : by Jan Claesz. ten Hoorn, Amsterdam 1674.[157][158]
19th century
Craandijk, J.: Wandelingen door Nederland, Haarlem 1883 2e druk
De Rijk, J. A.: Wandelingen door Gooi- en Eemland en omstreken, Arnhem 1967. Oorspronkelijk verschenen in De Gooi- en Eemlander, 1881, reprint 1905
20th century
Blankenberg, Huub and Taselaar, Klaas: Historisch reisboek voor Nederland, Fibula-Van Dishoeck Bussum, Unieboek B.V. Bussum, 1983,
ISBN9022836126
Klok, R. H. J.: Archeologisch reisboek voor Nederland, Fibula-Van Dishoeck Haarlem, Unieboek B.V. Bussum, 1977,
ISBN9789022836163
Munnig Schmidt, E. and Lisman, A. J. A. M., met tekeningen van Schut, C. J. Th: Plaatsen aan de Vecht en de Angstel, Canaletto, Alphen aan de Rijn, 1993,
ISBN906469611X
Olde Meierink, Ben et al.: Kastelen en ridderhofsteden in Utrecht, Uitgeverij Matrijs, Utrecht, 1995,
ISBN9789053450727
Wilmer, C. C. S.: Buitens binnen Utrecht, Kwadraat, 1982,
ISBN9789064812019
21st century
Fafianie, Ton, Rijntjes, R., van der Wiel, Manon, and editor Stades-Visscher, Elisabeth: Nieuwegein Geschiedenis en architectuur. Monumenteninventarisatie Utrecht, Zeist 2002,
ISBN9789067202893
Jas, J., Keverling Buisman, F., Storms-Smeets, E., te Stroete, A., Wingens, M., editor Vredenberg, J.: Kastelen in Gelderland, Uitgeverij Matrijs, 2013,
ISBN978-90-5345-410-7
Mansel, Philip: Lodewijk XIV. Koning van de wereld, Spectrum, 2019. Translation of King of the World: the Life of Louis XIV, Penguin, 2019
ISBN9789000370481
Munnig Schmidt, E. and Jonker-Duynstee, J. J. A. M.: Vechtgids. Culturele gids van de Vechtstreek, Oudheidkundig Genootschap Niftarlake, 2012,
ISBN9789087042752
van Nimwegen, Olaf: De Veertigjarige oorlog 1672-1712, Prometheus Amsterdam, 2019,
ISBN9789044638714
Panhuysen, Luc:
Oranje tegen de Zonnekoning : De strijd van Willem III en Lodewijk XIV om Europa, Atlas Contact, Amsterdam/Antwerpen, 2016,
ISBN978-9045036298
Rampjaar 1672. Hoe de Republiek aan de ondergang ontsnapte, Olympus, 2019,
ISBN9789046707319
Op de Beeck, Johan: De zonnekoning. Glorie & schaduw van Lodewijk XIV, Horizon, 2018,
ISBN978-9492626172
References
^Panhuysen, Luc: Rampjaar 1672. Hoe de Republiek aan de ondergang ontsnapte, Olympus, 2019.
^Mansel 2019, p. 226, 229-230. However,
Louis, Grand Condé warned King Louis XIV for the "brutal disgust we have brought upon ourselves" by the actions of French troops in the Netherlands.
^van Nimwegen 2019, p. 83. "Lodewijk XIV zelf kan het bloedbad in de Hollandse dorpen niet worden aangerekend. Anders ligt dit echter bij de stelselmatige verwoesting van landhuizen, landstreken en zelfs steden waartoe de Zonnekoning gericht opdracht gaf." Translation: "Louis XIV himself cannot be blamed for the massacre in the Dutch villages. The situation is different, however, with the systematic destruction of manors, regions and even cities, directed by the Sun King. "
^Blankenberg and Taselaar 1983, p. 274: "In 1672 werd hij [Kasteel Valkenburg] door troepen van stadhouder Willem III verwoest, nadat deze het kasteel op de Fransen hadden heroverd."
^
abKlok 1977, p. 184: "De Fransen hadden op 6 november 1672 reeds het dorp Abcoude in brand gestoken en kwamen op 30 november terug". Klok cites an unspecified description by "Mr. Breuninghoff, around 1860 head schoolmaster of Abcoude":.. om het nog staande gedeelte in de asch te leggen, bood de bezetting van het slot, die inmiddels versterking bekomen had, zoo veel tegenweer, dat de vijand genoodzaakt was, met achterlating van verscheidene gevangenen, onverrichter zake terug te keeren."
^The 13th-century church was largely destroyed by French troops. After being rebuilt the church was reopened in 1677. Munnig Schmidt and Lisman 1993, p. 200
^Destroyed by 600 French troops, leaving only the house of the schoolmaster intact, now near the Dutch Protestant church. Munnig-Schmidt 2012, p. 149
^
abcdeTobias van Domselaer, Romeyn de Hooghe et al.: Het ontroerde Nederlandt door de wapenen des konings van Vrankryk, dat is Een waarachtigh verhaal van den Fransen, Engelsen, Keulsen en Munstersen oorlogh, tegen de Vereenigde Nederlanden, met desselfs binnelandtse beroerten, daer in naukeuriglijk alle der zelver voorvallen worden verhandelt, Markus Willemsz. Doornik, Amsterdam, 1674, 1676
^There was a French fortification with an inner and an outer wall and a palissade on formerly ... unbroken ground tevoren onbebouwd ground, which in 2002 was called Raadhuisplein. Fafiani 2002 p. 45
^The castle was lit by putting straw fagots against it, which local farmers had to supply to the French troops. The castle burned for two days. Panhuysen 2019, p. 306.
^kasteleninutrecht.eu Amerongen. Consulted on 14 November 2020. Ontleend aan Ben Olde Meijering (red.): Kastelen en ridderhofsteden in Utrecht, 1995
^van Nimwegen 2019, p.83. Destroyed by special order of Louis XIV, who suspected the owner Van Reede of inciting German and Nordic princes against France.
^A. A. van der Aa, Aardrijkskundig woordenboek der Nederlanden IX, Gorinchem 1847, p. 575.
^Appendix, in Olde Meierink, Ben et al., 1995, p. 536.
^Wilfried Ahoud: Appeltern, in Jas, J., Keverling Buisman, F., Storms-Smeets, E., te Stroete, A., Wingens, M.: Kastelen in Gelderland, Uitgeverij Matrijs, 2013,
ISBN978-90-5345-410-7, p. 478-479.
^Wim Kattenberg: Balgoij, in Jas et al. 2013, p. 499
^monumentenregister.cultureelerfgoed.nl Complexnummer: 528825. Quote from the file "complex (pdf)": The end came in 1672 when French troops blew the castle up for non-payment of the levy under threat of fire. It was never rebuilt. Consulted on 14 November 2020.
^Taco Hermans: Middeleeuwse woontorens in Nederland. De bouwhistorische benadering van een kasteelvorm, 2016, p. 13-15
^In 1673 blown up by the French. Blankenberg and Taselaar 1983, p. 138
^On departure the French set the castle on fire and blew up the castle tower leaving a ruin, but in 1680-1681 the castle was rebuilt. Munnig Schmidt and Lisman 1993, p. 13-14 en 96
^After recapture of Naarden by Dutch Staatse troops, the French demolished Gunterstein leaving a ruin. Kees Hensbergen: Gunterstein, in Olde Meierink, Ben et al., 1995, p. 212-217, on p. 213.
^Munnig Schmidt and Lisman 1993, p. 13 and 86: Swiss mercenaries in French service burned Kasteel Nijenrode down on 7 September 1673.
^Swiss troops employed by the French blew up the high tower on 6 September 1673 and set fire to the other parts of the castle, which was largely burnt down as a result. Taco Hermans: Nijenrode, in Olde Meierink, Ben et al., 1995, p. 341-346, on p. 342.
^Nico van der Woude: Oud-Amelisweerd, in Olde Meierink, Ben et al., 1995, p. 102-107, on p. 103. Did the castle still exist at the time, what was it precisely that the French demolished? There are no known drawings from the 17th century, p. 105
^Located along the Vleutense Rijn a few kilometers north of the village proper. Jaap Renaud: Harmelen, in Olde Meierink, Ben et al., 1995, p. 237-241 on p. 238.
^monumentenregister.cultureelerfgoed.nl Huis te Jaarsveld Complexnummer: 511206. Quote:"Het kasteel werd in 1673 verwoest door de Fransen en niet weer herbouwd. Een beschrijving uit 1683 noemt 'de vermaerde hoge en vrije heerlyckheyt van Jaersvelt, bestaende uit een vervallen sloth, leggende in sijne dubbele grachten, den duyventoren, thuymanshuys'." Consulted on 21 November 2020.
^Jan Harenberg: Tolhuis, in Jas et al., 2013, p. 440
^Taco Hermans en Elisabeth de Ligt: Kronenburg, in Olde Meierink, Ben et al., 1995, p. 269-273, on p. 270.
^Restored in 1680. Munnig Schmidt and Lisman 1993, p. 132
^van der Aa: Aardrijkskundig Woordenboek der Nederlanden, Zesde deel I-K, januari 1846 J. Noorduyn, artikel Kranendonk (Huis-Te-) p. 635. Quote: "De Fransen deden het, den 16 September 1673, in de lucht springen."
books.google.nl. Consulted on 21 November 2020.
^Vogelzang, Fred: Ridderhofsteden in Utrecht. De veranderende betekenis van een adellijk symbool, pp. 372-383 in Gietman, Conrad: Adelsgeschiedenis 15 - Huis en habitus over kastelen, buitenplaatsen en notabele levensvormen, Uitgeverij Verloren B.V., 2017, on p. 378
^Huis Termeer was plundered and burnt down on 12 December 1672. Craandijk 1883, p. 91
^Ter Meer was located on the Julianaweg, Maarssen, and was destroyed by the French on December 12, 1672. The ruins were not cleared until the early 18th century. Douwe Koen: Ter Meer, in Olde Meierink, Ben et al., 1995, p. 306-309
^John Raggers: De geschiedenis van Het Hof, een poging tot reconstructie, februari 2020. Stichting Historisch Maasbommel.
PDF www.hanzestadmaasbommel.info.
^Tijmen Pranger: Maasbommel, in Jas, J., Keverling Buisman, F., Storms-Smeets, E., te Stroete, A., Wingens, M.: Kastelen in Gelderland, Uitgeverij Matrijs, 2013,
ISBN978-90-5345-410-7, p. 483.
^Marjan Witteveen: Well, in Jas et al. 2013, p. 322
^Jan Vredenberg: Millingen, p. 324 in Jas et al., 2013
^The French general Condé had a fortress, a 'schans', built at the newly built Doorslagsluis lock from 1671 to protect Utrecht. But the effective functioning of the
Dutch Water Line during the Disaster Year could be sabotaged by allowing water to drain from the flooded area between Jutphaas and IJsselstein in the years 1672-1674 via the Doorslagsluis. French soldiers were stationed here until the end of 1673.
www.pen.nl De Doorslagsluis in Jutphaas, 6 januari 2013 (in Dutch). Consulted on 14 November 2020.
^Isaac Sorious included an etching of this sconce in his series depicting the destruction by the French in 1672, entitled De schans aen Iutfaes, 1672 - 1676, Rijksmuseum. This etching is described by Rijksmuseum as De schans bij Jutphaas, verwoest door de Fransen in 1672 (The sconce near Jutphas, destroyed by the French in 1672).
^Luuk Keunen: Wageningen, in Jorien Jas (eindredacteur), Kastelen in Gelderland, Uitgeverij Matrijs, Utrecht 2013, p. 474-477.
^Jaap Renaud: Abcoude, in Olde Meierink, Ben et al., 1995, p. 98-101, p.98
^Saved because it was the headquarters of the French commander or because bribes were paid. Munnig Schmidt and Lisman 1993, p. 82
^Ineke Dukes-Greup: Oudaen, in Olde Meierink, Ben et al., 1995, p. 351-355, on p. 352.
^Munnig Schmidt and Jonker-Duynstee 2012, p. 55-56
^Blankenberg and Taselaar 1983, p. 110: "Omdat het slot in 1672 eigendom van een Deens edelman was geworden, werd het door de troepen van Louvois ontzien.", "Because the castle had become the property of a Danish nobleman in 1672, it was spared by the troops of Louvois."
^Tolien Wilmer: Keppel, p. 153 in Jas et al., 2013
^www.kasteleninutrecht.eu Zuilenstein. Consulted on 16 November 2020. Citaat: "Dan volgt het rampjaar 1672, maar Zuilenstein blijft gespaard voor de vernielingen van de Fransen, doordat stadhouder Willem III er zich persoonlijk mee bemoeide".
^www.slotzuylen.nl Geschiedenis van Slot Zuylen. Consulted on 9 November 2020. "Door goede contacten bleef het gespaard in het rampjaar 1672, toen menig ander kasteel door de Fransen werd verwoest."
^Evert de Jonge: Nijenbeek, in Jas et al. 2013, p. 468.
^Saved by a French commander with the withdrawal of the French troops. Jaap Renaud: Duurstede, in Olde Meierink, Ben et al., 1995, p. 180-186, on p. 182.