Cranendonck Castle

Cranendonck Castle was a castle near Soerendonk in the Dutch province of North Brabant. The so-called 'small castle', a villa built in the late 19th century, is located at Cranendonck 1 in Soerendonk. Maarheeze is first mentioned in 1223 when the area of Hugten, belonging to this parish, is granted as a fief by Dirk van Altena to the Lord of Heeze. The area was inherited after Dirk's childless death in 1242 by his nephew Engelbert van Horne. It is presumed that he was the one who had a castle built between Maarheeze and Soerendonk. Inspired by the natural conditions in the area where migrating cranes liked to rest, the castle was named Cranendonk; perhaps the area itself had already borne that name. By 1421, Maarheeze, Soerendonk, Gastel, and Budel were already united in two ship banks, which were responsible for both governance and justice.

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