The Muiderslot and the Mermaid of Muiden

Would you like to imagine yourself a day as a damsel in a beautiful, medieval castle? Then the Muiderslot is definitely worth a visit! In addition to various guided tours, you can also explore on your own, enjoy the garden and surroundings, or take a look at the falconer. But do you also know the legend of the Mermaid of Muiden?

The history of the Muiderslot

The Muiderslot was built around 1285 by order of the Dutch Count Floris V. He wanted a fortress at a strategic location. He chose the mouth of the river Vecht. Count Floris V did not enjoy his castle for long, as he was brutally murdered in 1296 by his own nobles after a quarrel that got out of hand. But he is not the only known occupant of the castle.

Writer Pieter Corneliszoon Hooft

P.C. Hooft (1581 – 1647) lived at the Muiderslot for nearly 40 years. Although he loved the castle, he missed the vibrant life of Amsterdam. Therefore, he liked to invite many guests to the castle. These were for all literary scholars, scientists and artists who were later called the “Muider Circle.” P.C. Hooft was a man of many passions. One of them was the Roman God Herculus, but more on that later!

Almost demolished

In 1825, the castle was almost demolished. Fortunately, those plans were abandoned, but it required a major renovation. In 1878, the castle was granted Rijksmuseum status. An attempt was made to reflect the atmosphere of the Golden Age in the interior. Besides all kinds of beautiful works of art, there is also a large collection of weapons. There are three tours to do: the Tower tour, the Knight tour and the Golden Age tour. The first two routes are mainly for children. After completing the scavenger hunt, they even earn a real knight’s medal!

The Mermaid of Muiden

If you take a guided tour, chances are you will hear the story of the Mermaid of Muiden. Stories of mermaids go way back to ancient times. One of the Muiden fishermen had once caught a mermaid in his net. He wanted to sell her to the highest bidder. However, the mermaid managed to escape and cursed Muiden with the words, “Muiden will remain Muiden, Muiden will never endure.” Her curse came true: Muiden always remained the same while villages and towns around Muiden flourished.

Credits photos: www.canva.com and OpstapmetLisa

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