An Ancient History
’t Kasteelke in Meerlo dates back to 1619 and owes its history to an even older Castle first mentioned in 1457. We would like to tell you about all that 't Kasteelke has been through.
The Castle
If you see ’t Kasteelke today, it doesn't look like a castle. There once stood a building that could well be called a veritable castle.
The Castle of Meerlo is first mentioned in 1457, which was owned by Johanna Spede. Unfortunately, we could no longer find a sketch of the original Castle. However, elements from before 1619 were found in the farmstead of ’t Kasteelke (see map), these are probably building remnants of the original Castle that suggest that the original Castle stood on the same spot.
Reconstruction in 1619
During the Eighty Years' War, the Castle was burned and destroyed. Johan van Winckelhuysen had owned the Castle since 1613 and had the buildings more modestly rebuilt in 1619. The year 1619 is indicated in the facade of the Gatehouse (Poortgebouw).
In the following centuries, the barn, the Bakehouse (Bakhuis) and the addition on the east side of the Gatehouse (Poortgebouw) were built.
Another Renovation in 1752
In 1752, a major fire broke out which burned the majority of the complex. Plans for its reconstruction were made that same year on the initiative of the then owner, the Count Van Hatzfeldt. Shown here is a piece of the building plan from around 1752.
The construction of the Gatehouse (Poortgebouw) in 1619 and the rebuilding activities after the fire in 1752 are important moments in the building history of ’t Kasteelke.
A List to Owners
Johan van Winckelhuysen was the builder of 't Kasteelke in 1619. After his death on December 3, 1633, many more new castle lords and ladies followed. Isabella J.M. van Winckelhuysen inherited 't Kasteelke in 1739 and was married to Edmund F.C. Count van Hatzfeldt, and thus the Meerlose property came into the possession of the van Hatzfeldt family. In 1834, ’t Kasteelke was sold by Edmund Count van Hatzfeldt to Margaretha Anna de Cocq van Haeften who lived at the noble House of Blitterswijck. In 1849, it came into the possession of Baroness Anna Ursula Margaretha de Cocq van Haeften. Anna had a special relationship with a servant, Daniel Nab, so the heritage came into the possession of Daniel's eldest son, Frans Herman Nab. It was sold by auction in 1908 for the sum of 12,080 guilders to the Company Maatschappij Waldemar. Hereafter, it was sold for 20,000 guilders to Anna Mathea Wije in 1914; she too did not stick around for long, it was resold again to Reinier Poels in 1919. His son Jozef Petrus Engelbertus took possession of it in 1961. After about thirty years, it was sold to Stichting Nieuwland in Geysteren. The president of the Nieuwland Foundation, J.L.M. van Susante, bought ’t Kasteelke in 2009 and until today it has been owned by the van Susante family.
Back to the 21st century
IN MODERN TIMES
’t Kasteelke is a national monument of which as much as possible of the old architectural style should be preserved. This is related to the fact that it is not always possible to provide state-of-the-art comfort. The estate also requires very high maintenance. If you want to know how we will approach this, read our Blog. If you want to contribute to ’t Kasteelke literally and figuratively, when it appeals to you, make a reservation with us.