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Floris V (1254–1296) was Count of Holland. He commissioned a castle in Muiden around 1285. It was a carefully selected spot where the Dutch South Sea and Vecht river met. A smart move because it was the perfect place to levy tolls, as it marked the boundary between Holland and Utrecht at the time. Many ships sailed back and forth and none of them were able to evade the tolls levied by Floris.
He was popular among the farmers in the area, offering them aid and refuge within the castle walls when enemies approached.
In his moments of leisure, Floris loved falconry, which is hunting with birds of prey. Sadly this did not end well, while on a hunt in 1296, his ‘friends’ capture him and lock him up in his own castle. Farmers from the surrounding area wanted to free him but failed. Shortly thereafter Floris was brutally murdered near the castle. Little was left of Muiderslot castle after that, as Floris V’s enemies destroyed almost all of it. It was not until 1370 that the castle was rebuilt and even expanded.
Another famous resident was Pieter Corneliszoon Hooft (1581–1647), colloquially known as P.C. Hooft. He moved into Muiderslot castle in 1609.
The castle came with his new position as administrator, dijkgraaf (chair of the Dutch water board), and judge for the Gooiland region. He was not very fond of his work and its obligations, was P.C. Hooft, who preferred to focus on writing. As a result, Hooft became famous for his many poems, books, letters, and plays. Muiderslot castle inspired him but he also felt lonely very often. As a result, he loved to invite his creative and learned friends from Amsterdam over. Want to know more about these friends and their parties at the castle? Read more about the Muiderkring.
Would you like to get to know the residents of the castle even better? Come visit and learn more about the residents, their important guests, and life at Muiderslot castle.
Would you like to get to know the residents of the castle even better? Come visit and learn more about the residents, their important guests, and life at Amsterdam Castle Muiderslot.
