Bleijenbeek Castle ( nl, Kasteel Bleijenbeek) is situated in the small hamlet of Bleijenbeek in the

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province of

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.''ANWB Topografische Atlas Nederland'', Topografische Dienst and ANWB, 2005. According to the 19th-century historian A.J. van der Aa, the castle is known for its numerous sieges by the armies of

Guelders The Duchy of Guelders ( nl, Gelre, french: Gueldre, german: Geldern) is a historical duchy, previously county, of the Holy Roman Empire, located in the Low Countries. Geography The duchy was named after the town of Geldern (''Gelder'') in pr ...

and

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. In 1580, the castle was besieged by the forces of Guelders, but it was defended bravely by the lord of the castle, Marten Schenk. When the

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sent cavalry, the besieging army had to retreat. In 1589, Schenk changed sides, and the castle was besieged by Marcus van Rije, the stadtholder of Guelders appointed by the Spanish king; this time, the castle was conquered. The castle has lain in ruins since the bombardment by the British RAF on 21 and 22 February 1945, during

Operation Veritable Operation Veritable (also known as the Battle of the Reichswald) was the northern part of an Allies of World War II, Allied pincer movement that took place between 8 February and 11 March 1945 during the final stages of the World War II, Second ...

. It was defended by only 15

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who held out against three separate assaults until it was bombed with nine 1,000 pound bombs. Their fierce determination to hold out was reflected by a slogan found in the castle's interior when it was taken. It reads "Sieg oder Sibirien" (Victory or Siberia). In 2009, the property was purchased by the Bleijenbeek Foundation, which intends to restore the remaining structure, moat, and surrounding gardens and provide public access after work is complete. Construction began in the summer of 2012.

References

External links

Kasteelbleijenbeek.nl
(in Dutch) — Website of the Bleijenbeek Foundation, which currently owns and is restoring Bleijenbeek Castle.

See also

References

External links

See also