Slot Loevestein

Om museet

Around 1360 the knight Dirc Loef van Horne had a castle built at the confluence of the Waal and the Maas, meant to be far more than a simple blockhouse. To finance his ambitious plans, he levied an unlawful river toll on the Waal, one of the busiest waterways in Europe. In 1572 the Geuzen (Dutch rebels) finally conquered the castle, and it remained in state hands. William of Orange had it reinforced; ramparts and a moat were built around it, and the soldiers in the fortress first lived in wooden barracks and later in stone huts. The bare castle served as a state prison.

The most famous episode is the escape of the jurist Hugo de Groot, who was imprisoned here and got out in 1621 in a book chest. Less well known, but more consequential, is his work on the law of war and peace of 1625, which is regarded as a foundation of international law. Later, Loevestein became part of the Hollandse Waterlinie (Dutch Water Line), a defensive line that flooded wide stretches of land and today is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Loevestein is a comparatively young museum: it was created in 1994 through the separation of the state museums. It tells of the Middle Ages, of the time as a state prison and of the Water Line. Around 6,000 pieces of the collection come from the museum's own archaeological excavations; some of them are shown in the permanent exhibition "Opgegraven" in the soldiers' huts of the fortress. The museum has been named a "Kidsproof Museum" by children several times.

Højdepunkter

• Medieval moated castle with fortress ramparts in the Munnikenland nature area
• History of the state prison and Hugo de Groot's escape
• Permanent exhibition "Opgegraven" with archaeological finds in the soldiers' huts
• Dutch Water Line as a UNESCO World Heritage Site
• Arrival by ferry via Gorinchem and Woudrichem possible
• Honored several times as a "Kidsproof Museum" by children

Permanente udstillinger

• Opgegraven – Archaeological finds from the museum's own excavations tell, in the soldiers' huts of the fortress, of everyday life at Loevestein.
• Schloss und Festung Loevestein – Walk through the castle covering the Middle Ages, the state prison with Hugo de Groot, and the Dutch Water Line.

Grundlagt

1994

Ejer

Stichting Rijksmuseum Slot Loevestein

Ledelse

Jenny Doest

Entrépriser & rabatter

Prices 2026. Free with Museumkaart, Vestingpas, Vriendenloterij-VIP-Pas and ICOM-Pas; 20% discount with the Veteranenpas. The Museumkaart is available on site. Payment by card, and also cash at the reception.

Tilgængelighed

• Delvis kørestolsvenlig
• Elevator
• Handicaptoilet
• Handicapparkering
• Servicehunde tilladt
• Taktile tilbud: ingen oplysninger
• Rundvisninger på tegnsprog: ingen oplysninger
• Letlæste tilbud: ingen oplysninger
• Synstolkning: ingen oplysninger

A wheelchair-suitable bridge with a lift platform (100 x 80 cm, only accompanied by staff) leads to the first floor of the castle; the upper two floors are not barrier-free. The fortress and the exhibition in the soldiers' huts are accessible, and several accessible restrooms are available. In the castle there are steep wall stairs with uneven steps, mostly without a handrail. Guide and assistance dogs are allowed; pets are not (dogs only on the terrace).

Børn og familie

Velegnet til børn og familier

• Familieomvisninger & workshops
• Opgavehæfte, skattejagt eller audioguide for børn
• Interaktive stationer
• Legeplads / legehjørne
• Børnefødselsdage

Children can explore the fortress with a tracking booklet, practice musket shooting, "mix" gunpowder and escape from the book chest; there is also a playground, a climbing course and children's birthday parties. Special activities take place during school holidays and at events (for example a knights' tournament). The Taveerne offers a children's lunchbox.

Transport & parkering

Navigation devices do not always lead correctly to the destination. Take motorway A27, exit 22 (Nieuwendijk/Woudrichem), or A2, exit 17 (Zaltbommel), then the N322 and the Loevestein exit. In the Munnikenland, Konik horses and cattle of the "Rode Geuzen" breed roam freely; observe the 30 km/h limit. Bicycles are not allowed in the fortress; there is a bicycle station in front of the bridge.

Service & spisesteder

• Café
• Museumsbutik
• Opbevaringsskabe

Museum café "De Taveerne" with terrace and museum shop; lockers with power outlets at De Taveerne.

Arrangementer & udlejning

• Lokaler til leje
• Private fester
• Firmaarrangementer
• Bryllupper / vielser

Meeting rooms and banquet halls are rented for company events, celebrations, children's parties and weddings; there is also a bed & breakfast in the fortress.

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