Castle Doenrade

Castle Doenrade is located on the edge of the village of the same name, Doenrade. The castle was built around 1117 and is one of the oldest castles in Limburg. In earlier years, this castle was a stronghold with moats around it.

The castle was inhabited by important noble families. The Brempt family (1196) and Dobbelstein family (1224) were considered part of the original nobility.

Around 1300, the castle was inhabited by the Dobbelstein family until Doenraedt. In the first half of the fifteenth century, it was owned by Godart van Dobbelstein from Doenrade, who was an official of Millen (1433) and governor (1444) of the Electoral Cologne Chamber in Heerlen.

In 1429, his daughter Bela married Johan van Brempt, called Lieck, guardian of Heinsberg. They continued to live on the first floor of the knight's house Unterlieck. Only in 1462, at an older age, did Bela Dobbelstein inherit Castle Doenrade.

With this, Doenrade came into possession of the noble family van Brempt tot Doenraedt, who also referred to themselves as Van Lieck. Steven van Brempt, also known as old Lieck, was the first of the family to call himself 'van Brempt tot Doenrade'. He was a grandchild of Bela Dobbelstein.

In 1523 and 1539, there is mention of a Krein van Lieck tot Doenrade. The Van Brempt family remained owners of Castle Doenrade until around 1700. The coat of arms of Van Brempt is depicted on a plaque of the castle.

In 1856, the district judge and also mayor of Oirsbeek, Johan Lodewijk Christiaan de Limpens, moved from Sittard to this castle. He was born in 1793 in Doenrade, and it is likely that his parents were already the owners of this castle.

He married baroness Catharina Josephina Sophia van Guaita. In 1886, he bequeathed all his possessions to a foundation that still exists today: 'the charitable foundation Jan de Limpens'. This foundation aims to help poor people.

Farmers who faced difficulties due to diseases among their cattle could receive money from this foundation. For studying children, study money could be obtained (except for those studying to become a doctor or lawyer).

After the residents De Limpens, the castle served as a convent for nuns caring for elderly men from 1925. From 1960 to 1969, the castle was used as a police school. From 1978 to 1985, the castle was owned by Mr. Motké, who operated a furniture store there under the name Elite Meubel. From 1985, the castle served as a restaurant for another two years.

The castle is also referred to as 'Doonderhuuske', in analogy with other smaller castles in the area north of Brunssum (Sjilvenderhuuske in Schinveld, Etzelderhuuske in Etzenrade). Justice has been administered at these castles since the Middle Ages.

However, they were subordinate as 'courts' to the higher authority of the lords of Brunssum. Therefore, the castle in that place bore the name Genhoes (Castle Op Gen Hoes), which means 'the house par excellence'. The municipal name Onderbanken recalls the 'under courts'.

From 1987 to 1991, Castle Doenrade stood empty. In 1991, renovations and restorations of the castle began. On May 1, 1993, the castle opened as Hotel & Restaurant Kasteel Doenrade.

The current whitewashed castle has emerged since the sixteenth century on the site of an older house. In the early 1930s, a wing and a tower were added to the castle, giving it its current shape.

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