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History and rebuild
Schagen, which lies to the west of the ‘Omring’ dyke, has fulfilled a central role in the surrounding region for a long time. Already in the Middle Ages, the place developed into a thriving trading centre, where both merchants and craftsmen made their living. In 1415, Schagen received city status.
On the 29th of June, 1427, Schagen and the adjoining area were give on loan to Willem, ‘de bastaard van Holland’ (the illegitimate son of Holland) by a nobleman. Willem’s descendants used the name Van Beijeren van Schagen from that time onwards. The domain of Schagen and the surrounding area remained the Lord’s property until the French era.
This castle remained property of the Van Beijeren van Schagen family until 1658. The domain and all that accompanied it, was sold due to a lack of money to George van Cats, a noble man originally from the province of Zeeland. He reconstructed the castle according to the requirements of the time: the tower gate and the front wall of the castle were demolished and the drawbridge was replaced by a permanent bridge. However, in 1676, the whole domain was repurchased by Floris Carel van Beijeren van Schagen. However, he lived at a castle in Belgium. The castle of Schagen remained empty for a few centuries and eventually decayed into ruins.
In 1829, the Belgian noble family d’Oultremont, the owners, decided to sell the ruins of Slot Schagen for demolition. The municipality of Schagen purchased both castle towers. The western tower was used as a jail for transients, while the eastern tower served as a residence for the jailer and his family (Cornelis Bok) and later for the family of the local constable.
The grounds, where the proud Slot Schagen once stood, subsequently housed the butcher's pigsty, an ice cellar, a fire engine house, and a quarantine building. For fifty years, the grounds also served as a cemetery.
In the latter part of the last century, the castle grounds had fallen into a state of neglect. A citizens' initiative, supported by the municipal government, led to the formation of the Initiatiefgroep Slot Schagen. After about ten years of determined effort, this eventually resulted in a new Slot Schagen: a modern multifunctional replica that references the original castle of Schagen.
In the latter part of the last century, the castle grounds were in a rather desolate state. A citizens' initiative, supported by the municipal government, led to the establishment of the Initiatiefgroep Slot Schagen. After about ten years of determined effort, this ultimately resulted in a new Slot Schagen: a modern multifunctional replica that references the former castle of Schagen.