Honingen Castle

Honingen Castle was a former castle that was situated in the Kralingen neighborhood of the city of Rotterdam, in the province of South Holland in the Netherlands.

The exact date of construction of Honingen Castle, or its builder, is unknown. The castle was first mentioned in 1318 when it was pledged to the Chapter of Brielle by Ogier van Kralingen.

In 1426, it was demolished by the town of Rotterdam to prevent troops from the Hook League from using it, during the Hook and Cod Wars. The castle was completely rebuilt in 1462 by the Lord of Kralingen, featuring a moat connected to the river Meuse through a sluice. It was surrounded by a forest.

In 1573, Sea Beggar William II de la Marck, Lord of Lumey, was imprisoned there. A year later, in 1574, Honingen Castle was destroyed, likely by Spanish troops. It then remained a ruin.

The ruins and surrounding estate were purchased by Rotterdam’s council in 1668, who tore down what was left in 1672. Afterward, the area was divided and sold to commoners.

Depictions show the castle had a roughly square layout with two octagonal towers, one round tower, and one square tower. The square tower was probably the oldest part.

During its existence, Honingen Castle was located about 2 km east of Rotterdam.

Today, the site is a late-19th-century neighborhood of the city. Nothing remains of the castle except for a pond that was once part of the moat.

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