In the heart of the city of Helmond in the Dutch province of North Brabant lies Helmond Castle, the largest moated castle in the Netherlands, surrounded by a huge moat and picturesque castle gardens with fascinating sculptures by various artists. This castle, which is over 700 years old, with its square layout and characteristic round towers at each corner and large moat, was probably commissioned by Lodewijk Berthout van Berlaer, Lord of Helmond. Construction of the new castle began in 1325 and lasted until 1350. The new castle not only served as a bulwark to secure and defend the northeastern border of the Duchy of Brabant, but was also a symbol of the power of the Berlaer family. Until the new castle was completed, the family lived in the “Old House,” a wooden castle with a residential tower, located only 100 meters away from the castle in a peat bog in the Aa valley. This wooden castle complex was the first castle in Helmond, built between 1170 and 1175. Maria of Brabant, daughter of Henry I of Brabant, also lived there. She married Emperor Otto V, becoming Empress of the Holy Roman Empire. After the death of her husband, she remarried in 1218 to Count William I of Holland. Maria, who was extremely religious, enjoyed hunting. According to legend, one day she got stuck in the moor while out hunting on her horse. In her desperation, she promised to build an abbey on that very spot if she were rescued. Maria was indeed freed from her predicament, kept her word, and founded the Binderen monastery. The name is derived from Maria’s cry for help: “Ik binder in,” which means “I’m stuck” in English. Helmond Castle, which only acquired its present appearance in the late 17th century, had to withstand not only the siege by Prince Maurice of Orange during the Eighty Years’ War, but also a major fire in 1549, which caused extensive damage. Over the centuries, the castle was the residence of four noble families. These were the van Berlaer family, the van Cortenbach family, the van Arlberg family, and the Wesselman van Helmond family. The latter was also responsible for the construction of the Zuid-Willemsvaart Canal. However, in 1923, the last descendant of the Wesselman van Helmond family bequeathed the castle to the city. Large parts of the castle gardens were sold to the Vlisco company, which built its huge factory buildings there. The city had the castle converted into a town hall based on a design by J. W. Hanrath. In addition to the registry office, where couples can tie the knot, it has also housed the Helmond Museum since 1982, which provides insights into the history of Helmond and its castle.
