Accommodations in Stoutenburg
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Stoutenburg is a village in the Dutch province of Utrecht. Until 1 June 1969, Stoutenburg was an independent municipality. In 1812 it was annexed to Hoevelaken until it became independent again in 1818. Since 1969 it has been part of the municipality of Leusden. The village has about 350 inhabitants.
In Stoutenburg you can admire Stoutenburg Castle, among other things. The current ”Stoutenburg Castle” is a mansion, which was built in 1888 as a successor to a whole series of earlier fortresses. The first Castle of Stoutenburg was founded in 1259 by William of Amersfoort. It was intended to protect the border between the Count of Guelders and the Bishop of Utrecht. However, it has never been garrisoned. The name means: “Proud Castle”. As mentioned, the Stoutenburg estate near Leusden has a long history. The history of the estate begins with an episcopal castle from the 13th century, which may have originated from an even older residential tower (=keep) from the 11th century. In 1259 the castle was under construction. On 12 June 1259, the day that Amersfoort was granted city rights by bishop Henry I of Vianden, Walter (or Wouter), the lord of Amersfoort and bailiff of Eemland, settled in Stoutenburg. In exchange for the disposal of this castle, the then bishop of Utrecht granted city rights to Amersfoort. The bishop used the castle to house soldiers. The religious order of the Franciscan Friars Minor bought the neglected house in 1948 and turned it into a monastery. The Friars Minor Franciscans left the building at the end of 1990 to make way for the community of the Franciscan Environmental Project, or the ‘Environmental Monastery’. That community is still there and also has its own offer on spirituality and nature connection. Activities are organized throughout the year.