Estate Zuylestein

Zuylestein has a history of over 600 years. From 1381 to 1383, we find the castle pledged to Jan van Zuylen, who is also pledged with Natewich and Heulestein. The castle remains in this family until 1502. In 1549, Ernst van Nijenrode becomes the owner of the castle, whose daughter Geertruid inherits the castle in 1558, after her father's death. She is married to Goert van Reede van Saesfeld, who is also the owner of Amerongen. In 1609, Johan van Renesse van der Aa buys the castle, which he then sells in 1630 to Prince Frederik Hendrik. Prince Frederik Hendrik has the castle thoroughly renovated into the shape it has retained until 1945. In 1640, he gives the castle to his illegitimate son Frederik, who then adopts the name Nassau-Zuilenstein.

The family van Nassau-Zuilenstein remains the owner of the castle until the lineage dies out in the male line in 1830. Through inheritance, in 1897 Godard John George Carel, Count of Aldenburg-Bentinck, becomes the owner of the castle. Since 1800, the castle is no longer inhabited by the owners but is rented out. The last tenant is Philips van Alfen. Due to the castle being bombed by Allied aircraft at the end of World War II in 1945, this Philips sees his valuable collection of antiques lost. In the 1950s, it was completely demolished, including the foundations. Only an 18th-century gatehouse remains. Between 1981 and 1983, a new main building was constructed near the location of the former castle.

The land registry in 1384

The history of Zuylestein begins with a mention in the bishop's land registry around 1381-1383. Jan van Zuylen is then the owner of the fortified house.
"house with its hostelry called Sulensteyne, located in the parish of Amerongen to the south." The family van Zuylen, originally a noble house from the vicinity of Nijmegen / Kleef, took a prominent place in the Sticht. As ministerialians of the bishop of Utrecht, they became involved in the reclamation of marshy lands. This led to significant possessions. Within a few generations, many branches of the van Zuylen family were spread across the province. Likewise, in what was then Wijk bij Duurstede, the van Zuylen's held a significant position by acquiring the Natewisch (from 1270) among other properties. These van Zuylen's from the Natewisch also had Zuylestein in their possession until 1502. Through inheritance and sale, it came into the hands of Ernst van Nijenrode in 1549, a significant administrator of the Sticht in the function of Marshal.

Ernst van Nijenrode in 1523

Ernst van Nijenrode was married on February 25, 1523, to Margareta van Renesse with Bishop Philip of Burgundy as a witness. Truly a notable marriage. Of the children they had, Geertruid (1525-1605) was the heiress of Zuylestein. Geertruid married Goert van Reede (1516-1585), the then owner of Castle Amerongen. Their portraits hang in Castle Amerongen and their images are also still in the Andrieskerk.
They had 5 children, of whom Aleid, their daughter, became lady of Zuylestein. Testamentarily, her father, Goert van Reede, seems to have included compulsory provisions stating that if she remains childless, the property shall belong to her brother Frederik van Reede. When Frederik van Reede dies in 1611, she still transfers Zuylestein to her cousin Johan van Renesse. However, the children of Frederik van Reede contest this sale. Godard van Reede (1593-1641), advisor to Frederik Hendrik (1584-1647), was notably involved in this matter.

Frederik Hendrik in 1630

The complicated legal procedure that ensues lasts until 1630. Then Frederik Hendrik intervenes and buys the knight's court Zuylestein for 35,000 guilders. Since that time, various garden designs and drawings of the house have been preserved that show the many changes. From then on, no effort or cost is spared to give the knight's court Zuylestein a noble appearance. The territory is expanded. From 1632, Leersum also belongs to the territory. High jurisdiction applies. In short, Zuylestein then becomes a beautiful hunting lodge and a high lordship with all associated rights. This period lasted until 1640. After that, a donation of the property took place.
From March 15, 1640, the new owner is Jonkheer Frederik van Nassau Zuylestein (1608 -1672), the illegitimate son of Frederik Hendrik. In 1645 he was appointed lieutenant colonel in the Utrecht Regiment of the State army. He marries Mary Killigrew in 1648. In 1659, Frederik is appointed governor of his 8-year-old nephew, who was then Prince Willem III. He ends his career as a general of infantry and falls in the disaster year 1672 at Grevenbrugge near Woerden.

Counts of Rochford

The eldest son Willem (1649-1708) is baptized on October 7, 1649, in The Hague and marries Jane Wroth on January 28, 1681. Willem accompanied our then Stadtholder King Willem III to England. There, he commands as Adjutant General over the Huguenots. He reports the joyful victory at the Irish river Boyne to Queen Mary II and acquires, among other things, the English title Earl of Rochford. From that moment on, the family will mainly reside in England. Two of his daughters marry sons of the van Reede family, the residents of the nearby Castle Amerongen. Under the influence of hereditary provisions drawn up by Frederik Hendrik, it will later turn out that the owners of Castle Amerongen will again become heirs to the knight's court Zuylestein at a later time.
The eldest son William Henry (1681-1710 and second earl of Rochford) falls in the War of Spanish Succession at Almenara on July 27, 1710. As a result, his brother Frederick van Nassau Zuylestein (1682-1738 and third earl of Rochford) is bestowed with Zuylestein. This Frederick is a prominent member of the English House of Lords.

The Van Reede family in 1830

Frederick marries Elisabeth Savage in 1714. Their eldest son William Henry (1717-1781) becomes the fourth earl of Rochford. He is a very successful diplomat and holds important positions both at home and abroad. The fifth earl of Rochford is also the last and dies in 1830. After that, the van Nassau Zuylesteins become extinct in the male line. Zuylestein then comes into the possession of the eighth earl of Athlone George Godard Henry van Reede (1820-1843). This inheritance takes place through his great-grandmother Henriëtte van Nassau Zuylestein who was married to Frederik Christaan van Reede.
After his death in 1843, his sister Elisabeth Mary succeeds him as the owner of Zuylestein.
She married Frederick Child Villiers. Their marriage remained childless. After her death in 1897, she bequeathed Zuylestein to her nephew Godard J.G.C. Count of Aldenburg Bentinck, who was then living at Castle Amerongen. Since 1983, the estate Zuylestein has been inhabited by his great-grandchildren, the family De Brauwere Van Aldenburg Bentinck.

Recent history

Since 1901, Zuylestein has been permanently inhabited again by a brother of Count Bentinck from Amerongen, Count Charles Bentinck.
He lived there until his death in 1934.
After that, it was rented out once more. Mr. Philip van Alphen, an art collector and director of an advertising agency from Amsterdam, lived there until a bombing in April 1945 destroyed the castle. The misconception that German officers would be stationed there was the reason for the Allies to carry out this bombing.
The post-war difficulties, including a construction ban, resulted in the then-ruin being demolished in 1953. It took until 1981 before another impressive mansion was built.
Meanwhile, there have been many modifications within the walled grounds. The historic gatehouse is currently fully in use again. The still present old structures of the estate reveal the allure of yesteryear.

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