My House Sittard

HistoryIn the heart of downtown Sittard lies the smallest castle in the Netherlands. The former coach house Casa Mia, currently set up as a residence with Bed & Breakfast, is located on Parklaan, formerly called Den Diek. This street was once home to the birthplace of Sittard's most famous resident, Toon Hermans. Casa Mia has a rich history and is a municipal monument.
The miniature castle Casa Mia, a neo-Gothic castle-like structure on the (now vaulted) Geleenbeek, was built in 1903 by wine merchant Joseph Nicolas Rutten in his garden for his second wife Anna Henriette Janssen. He ran his business in the large building around the corner on Voorstad. The neo-Gothic turrets, battlements, and wooden gate evoke memories of the medieval Limbrichterpoort. In the past, the open Geleenbeek ran alongside the castle, and there was a bridge to the wooden gate. After his death in 1910, his widow married a real French count Géraud Anne Maria Louis Jules De Rocheouart de la Rochejaquelin, so the castle has been inhabited by a noble family since then. From 1927, Prince Hendrik, the husband of Queen Wilhelmina, regularly stayed as a guest at the countess's home. In 1938, the castle was renovated and made suitable as a residence with office space. In 1965, the Geleenbeek was vaulted, and the moat disappeared. There are serious plans to reopen it soon. Since 2017, we, Rob and Marja, have been the proud owners of this unique property. We have transformed the outdated Casa Mia back into a mini castle where history, comfort, and tranquility merge together. SittardThe city of Toon Hermans is one of the oldest cities in the Netherlands and has a glorious past. In the year 1243, Sittard was granted city rights, which is 775 years ago this year. From 1400, it belonged to the dukes of Guelders (Jülich). From 1798 to 1814, it was part of the French Empire, within the Department of the Ruhr, with Aachen as its capital. In 1814, the Cossacks liberated the citizens of Sittard, and in 1815 Sittard became the last city to join the Kingdom of the Netherlands. However, it took a long time before the inhabitants truly felt like Dutch, as in 1830 Sittard was one of the first cities to declare Belgian independence, and in 1848 many residents unsuccessfully fought for renewed affiliation with Germany. In 1918, when the Belgians reclaimed Dutch Limburg, the Sittard citizens were already fully integrated into the Kingdom of the Netherlands. The city center has been a protected urban view since 1972.

Tourist Board South Limburg (Visit Zuid-Limburg)