Proverbial route - Castle ruins
As a thunderclap
On the border of Brabant and Gelre, a defense tower and a stone residential building were built in the 12th century: this was the beginning of the fortified town of Heusden! In the following centuries, the town grew and so did the castle. When the fortifications with the bastions and ravelins were made, the castle came to lie within the town.
The Kruittorenramp
On July 24, 1680 a great disaster happened here: the kruittorenramp. Lightning struck the powder tower like thunder. The resulting fire turned the castle into a ruin. Many people die and the mess is enormous. The remains of the castle remained hidden for a long time until excavations were made in 1948. In 1987, they even rebuilt part of the castle and placed a playground on this historic site.
"A thousand bombs and shells..."
As a thunderclap
On the border of Brabant and Gelre, a defense tower and a stone residential building were built in the 12th century: this was the beginning of the fortified town of Heusden! In the following centuries the town grew and so did the castle. When the fortifications with the bastions and ravelins were made, the castle came to lie within the town.
The Kruittorenramp
On July 24, 1680 a great disaster happened here: the kruittorenramp. Lightning struck the powder tower like thunder. The resulting fire turned the castle into a ruin. Many people die and the mess is enormous. The remains of the castle remained hidden for a long time until excavations were made in 1948. In 1987, they even rebuilt part of the castle and placed a playground on this historic site.
"A thousand bombs and shells"
This always curses Captain Haddock in my friend Tintin's comic books. When lightning struck the turret of Heusden Castle, it contained 70,000 bombs (gunpowder) and 1,000 grenades. No wonder the havoc afterwards was so enormous!
Tips from Sjors
In the TIP you can find a model of the old castle. The staff is happy to tell you about it.
Every year in June visit the 'Historical Festival Heusden' near the castle ruins.
Continue route
Walk over the wooden bridge out of the playground and follow the sandy path on the right to the street. Turn left there so you walk right around the church, across Burchtplein to the Wijkse Poort.