Castle Estate De Wittenburg

Around 1600, there was a monumental farm, Groot Hoefijzer. During the second half of the 18th century, it grew into a country estate. In 1846, and also after the sale in 1855 to brick manufacturer C. Schiffer van Bleyswijk, the house was thoroughly renovated. The new owner named the house after his wife, Suzanna de Wildt: De Wiltenburg. This later became De Wittenburg.

Mr. Helenus Marinus Speelman (1857-1909), lord of Zuylensteyn and Leersum, and his wife Sophie Adrienne baroness Sloet van Oldenruitenborgh (1860-1941) lived in the center of The Hague. After he sold his house in 1882, the Municipal Museum moved in, and later the Hague Historical Museum. They moved to Castle Zuylestein, which he rented temporarily. While living there, they traveled around to visit other castles and gather ideas for a house they wanted to build. When he had earned enough money from his sugar plantations in the Dutch East Indies, they commissioned the construction of De Wittenburg, a gatehouse, a lodge for the porter, and an ice cellar between 1899 and 1901. A tower was also built on the hill by the pond. However, this was demolished in the 1960s. The architect was Johannes van Nieukerken from the architectural firm van Nieukerken. During the laying of the first stone, a lead tube with a certificate and the building plans was embedded in the foundation of the tower. On the advice of Mr. Victor de Stuers, the tower was increased by one floor upon completion, but while still under construction.

The park was laid out in 1901 by architect Mondt and his supervisor De Clerck.

The current owner of the castle rents the castle to the Association International Reception Center of the Business Community de Wittenburg in the Netherlands (formerly "Royal Club of the Netherlands"), which was established in 1963. For decades, the castle has mainly been used for receptions by the royal family, members of the Wittenburg, the Dutch government for state visits, and receptions for the Hague diplomatic corps. The vast majority of the members were large multinationals (Shell, ING, Unilever, AkzoNobel, KLM, etc.) who could gather at this location.

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