Radboud Castle

Count of Holland Floris the Fifth (reigned 1256-1296) subjugated West Friesland between 1282 and 1289. He encountered little opposition, especially after the Omringdijk was severely damaged by storm surge in late 1287. Inland there was then great flooding. The situation of the West Frisians had become hopeless. In 1289 they finally surrendered. 

To control West Friesland, Floris had five castles built on the Omringdijk. Since the dike surrounded the area, it formed the ideal position. Each of the castles were imposing, brick residential and army sites, from which troops could quickly move out and protect themselves from attackers. The castle in Medemblik is the only one still standing. It has long been called Radboud after a Frisian king (648-719). Tradition has it that, like Floris, he had his castle here.

The Omringdijk had been ravaged by storm surge in 1287. Floris had an interest in the West Frisians repairing it soon. To organize this, he appointed two baljuws. One of them resided in Radboud castle. They not only ran the regional administration, but also acted as dike count, the highest supervisor of the dike in the name of the count. This supervision included the annual dike inspection, during which the bailiff inspected the Omringdijk from beginning to end. 

1296: Floris was not yet dead or the West Frisians attacked his fortresses. Radboud's storming was unsuccessful, although the bailiff was killed. When the West Frisian army suffered a crushing defeat a year later near Alkmaar (pictured), resistance to Holland was broken. The coercive castles gradually lost their function. Only Radboud remained standing as the residence of the bailiff until the West Frisian bailiwicks were abolished in 1414. 

In 1608, the States of Holland sold the castle to Medemblik. Because it no longer had a defensive function, part of the castle had already been demolished. Medemblik now housed the militia there. In the centuries that followed, Radboud slowly but surely fell into disrepair due to poor maintenance. 

In the nineteenth century, Radboud looked dilapidated. Medemblik had become such a pauper town that it wanted to sell two towers for demolition. The proceeds were intended for the poorest of the poor. Although King William II (1840-1849) managed to prevent this, the towers fell after his death. The dikes had to be strengthened and, in the absence of sufficient rubble, anything could be used. 

Nothing seemed to save Radboud from destruction. Fortunately, the Empire decided to purchase the castle in 1889. A large-scale restoration followed to restore it to its former glory. The result is impressive.