Croy Castle

Croy castle
Stiphout, the Netherlands
Croy castle
The Netherlands
Type	Castle
Coordinates	51°30.0′N 5°37.45′E / 51.5°N 5.62417°E / 51.5; 5.62417
Built	15th century
Construction materials	Brick
Current condition	Good
Open to the public	No, Office building
Croy castle (19th century)

The castle Croy is currently no longer inhabited but in use as an office. The castle lies in the Dutch province North Brabant, near the village Aarle-Rixtel which is part of the municipality Laarbeek. From 1642 until 1968 Croy belonged to the municipality Stiphout (currently part of the municipality of Helmond).

Since 1795 beer is brewed near the castle. Since 2004 the Croy beer is itself brewed in a brewery in Belgium but the ingredients are grown on the Croy estate. Also there is a herd of Rambouillet-Merino sheep on the Croy estate.

History

The oldest parts of the Croy castle were probably build in the 15th century. There is not much know about the history of the castle. Jacob van Croy (Cathedral-lord of Koln and Luik) was in 1477 owner of the land, but a house is not mentioned. In the 16th century villages in the neighbourhood were many times demolished, probably also the castle (but this is not recorded).

The last inhabitant was Freule (Lady) Constance van der Brugghen. Her uncle bought Croy in 1772, In 1773 he died and left the castle to his half brother Johan Karel Gideon. He married Margaretha Gertuda Falck and they had three sons and a daughter. In 1820, 1826 and 1864 the sons died. Freule (Lady) Constance van der Brugghen died in 1873 (78 years old) en left the building to municipality of Stiphout with the obligation to use the building for the help of poor elderly people. This was led by the sisters of Geloof, Hoop en Liefde (Belief, Hope and Love). In 1977 the firemen disapprove the house as being a house for elderly people because of the safety regulation.

Research of the castle points that the size was more or less the same all those years. The building history seems complex but not much is know from written sources. Its seems that the original building has been severely damaged. The Cellar, the right wing and the round tower are probably from the beginning of the construction. The last changes (e.g. the entrance and the trapgevels are build in the 18th century.
Many noble families have lived in the castle.

See also

• House of Croy
• List of castles in the Netherlands

References

Kransber, D. & H. Mils, Kastelengids van Nederland, middeleeuwen, Bussem 1979 (ISBN 90-228-3856-0)

Kalkwiek, K.A., A.I.J.M. Schellart, H.P.H. Jansen & P.W. Geudeke, Atlas van de Nederlandse kastelen, Alphen aan den Rijn 1980 (ISBN 90-218-2477-9)

Helsdingen, H.W. van, Gids voor de Nederlandse kastelen en buitenplaatsen, Amsterdam 1966

Tromp, H.M.J., Kijk op kastelen Amsterdam 1979 (ISBN 90-10-02446-6)

External links

• Croy castle (Dutch)

Coordinates: 51°30.0′N 5°37.45′E / 51.5°N 5.62417°E / 51.5; 5.62417