Het Markiezenhof, the oldest city palace in the Netherlands, this museum features the history of Bergen op Zoom and surrounding regions, temporary exhibitions as well as a permanent exhibition of fairground attractions
Het Markiezenhof, the oldest city palace in the Netherlands, this museum features the history of Bergen op Zoom and surrounding regions, temporary exhibitions as well as a permanent exhibition of fairground attractions.
The Markiezenhof is the oldest city palace of the Netherlands, located in the historical heart of Bergen op Zoom in the southwest of the country. The building, dating from the late medieval period, hosts a museum which shows the history of the town and region, including a large permanent exhibition on the history of fairs.
Besides the permanent collection on the local and regional history, the Markiezenhof regularly has temporary exhibitions featuring mostly local artists who display their work in disciplines such as photography, painting, sculpture or graphics.
Besides the museum, the Markiezenhof is also home to a diverse offer of events such as concerts, theatrical performances, the raptor shows in August and many more.
Many rooms in the building are excellently suitable to hold business events such as presentations, conference, meeting or even business diner. The Markiezenhof is furthermore a beloved location for wedding ceremonies and photo series of newly wed couples.
The Markiezenhof is a late Gothic city palace in Bergen op Zoom, residence of the lords and later the marquis of Bergen op Zoom. Nowadays exhibitions and events take place here. It is a national monument and belongs to the ‘Top 100 of the National Heritage Agency’ from 1990.
This diverse scale of activities makes the Markiezenhof the lively heart of the historical centre of Bergen op Zoom.
This palace was built at the end of the 15th century (1485) under the direction of the Mechelen architects Antoon I Keldermans and Rombout II Keldermans, members of the Mechelen family of architects Keldermans, commissioned by Jan II van Glymes, lord of Bergen op Zoom . The Heren van Bergen lived here mainly in the castle in Wouw. The Markiezenhof, or ‘the Hof van Bergen’ as it would be called, had to be dignified enough to receive high guests because Bergen op Zoom became an increasingly important trading city. It would become one of the finest late Gothic city palaces in Western Europe. It has an imposing façade with red window baskets. In the courtroom stands the 15,000 kg weighing Christoffelschouw from 1521 designed by the sculptor Rombout Keldermans. Here the gentlemen and marquis received their guests. In 1511 the palace was completed. Lord Jan II has not been able to experience completion itself; he died in 1494. In 1533 the lords of Bergen were elevated to marquis.
The Markiezenhof came into the hands of foreign royal houses at the end of the 17th century. In 1698 François Egon de la Tour d’Auvergne was the last Marquis who actually lived in the Markiezenhof. He had the palace modernized to his time. The arcade was bricked up, the tower was shortened and the rear façade was built in classic French style. The last generations of marquees that Bergen op Zoom had hardly ever entered the Markiezenhof because they lived in other places in Europe because of their international titles. When the marquisate of Bergen op Zoom came to an end in 1795, the French army seized the Markiezenhof and the palace was used as a military hospital. From 1815, the Markiezenhof became a barracks.
During the barracks, the palace fell into heavy disrepair. In the 60s of the 20th century, the restoration of the Markiezenhof began. The courtyards were restored to their original style, as was the case in the 15th century. The arcades opened again and the palace tower was reinstated. The French garden facade and the garden were also restored.
In 1987 the renovated Markiezenhof was opened by Queen Beatrix. From 2008 to October 2009 it was rebuilt and, among other things, the period rooms were renovated.
https://www.hisour.com/het-markiezenhof-historisch-centrum-bergen-op-zoom-netherlands-18339/
Charge
9.50 EUR
0 - 5 years: free
6 - 18 years: 5.50 EUR
entrance wheelchair: 8.00 EUR
15+ per: 8.50 EUR
- The first floor is free
- WC
markiezenhof@bergenopzoom.nl
- It has a museum inside
- Museum shop and library
- Wedding arrangement
- Guided tour: 60.00 EUR