The castle was part of a larger series of fortifications and overlooked the Meuse, as well as guarding the road to Nijmegen. It changed hands repeatedly between the Dutch States Party and the Spanish in 1599-1635, and was eventually handed over to Brandenburg after the Peace of Münster. In 1672 the castle was succesfully besieged by the French, who dismantled it in 1710. The materials were used for the construction of houses in the nearby town of Gennep and for the reinforcement of the banks of the Meuse.
The Siege of Gennep 1641 (translated from Dutch to English)
>The Siege of Gennep was a siege and capture of the Genneperhuis castle near Gennep in Limburg, the Netherlands, by the State army led by Frederik Hendrik during the Eighty Years’ War. The siege lasted from 28 June to 29 July 1641, after which Gennep was taken by the besiegers. While the state army was still entrenching itself for Gennep, Count de Fontaine attempted to prevent this. His army has since grown to 12,000 men and 4,000 horsemen were on their way to Blerick. On 22 June they approached Sambeek south of Boxmeer where the Count Herman Otto I of Limburg Stirum was stationed. Before taking action, Count de Fontaine wanted to try to strengthen the occupation at Gennep, and sent 2,000 men to an unfinished position for Gennep that had been claimed by the Prince of Orange. They left this position after the Lord of Beverweerd approached with an army. The Spaniards finally withdrew via the Kleefse Bossen to the main force. Two days later, the Count de Fontaine moved the army to Blerick.
>
> On June 28, State troops started digging two approaches in two directions. Two batteries bombarded Gennep from four sides. Digging the trenches was not without risk. Count Willem van Nassau had taken the control carp, and had to cross a dam of only three meters wide, which was also covered by a bastion. The besieged people crossed the dam on the other side, so that on 6 July all the branch forests washed away with which the prince had filled the Niers river. (He was wounded and would eventually die in 1642 from the wound he sustained during this siege.) This forced the prince to build a bridge, which was hampered by the besieged. Eventually the prince ordered a bridge to be built outside of range on July 14, and immediately ordered the construction of a ramp from which the city could be attacked. This allowed the States to take the earlier point, and from there take a Spanish jump, from which another horn could be undermined. The mine was ready on July 22, but the horn could be taken without making the mine jump. Now it was finally possible to start taking a bastion. In the meantime, the besieged had 500 dead and 700 wounded within the ranks.
>
> When they saw that a storm was imminent, they wanted to negotiate a surrender. On July 27, they were given the condition that they were allowed to go to Venlo with their weapons and two guns under the guidance of the State army. The clergymen too had to leave. The evacuation took place on July 29. The prince needed a month to repair the damage done to Gennep. The intake was accompanied by bonfire at the border places, and bells.
Ytsen says
The castle was part of a larger series of fortifications and overlooked the Meuse, as well as guarding the road to Nijmegen. It changed hands repeatedly between the Dutch States Party and the Spanish in 1599-1635, and was eventually handed over to Brandenburg after the Peace of Münster. In 1672 the castle was succesfully besieged by the French, who dismantled it in 1710. The materials were used for the construction of houses in the nearby town of Gennep and for the reinforcement of the banks of the Meuse.
[Height map of the area today](https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Dvn97isX4AYDkjc.jpg)
[Larger overview of the fortifications ](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b8/Siege_and_capture_of_Gennep_by_Frederick_Henry_in_1641_%28Renaudus%2C_Nicolaes_Visscher%2C_1649%29.jpg)
[Layout of the castle and cross-section](https://lh3.ggpht.com/mJCEmttEB8xfTQ5ixt1bXryOcZsVHRGDx3xeAvOSI6HGbkADsGO6mwoltkTDqxl6SvQf2Nn1X7bbDKBbOi-88iMYwQzV=s0)
Fire_And_Blood_7 says
This looks like it’s from the Game of Thrones intro
Vrijveel says
Cool. r/dioramas might be interested too.
teflondonna says
Were you in the diorama room of the French army museum?
Spinach_Souffle says
I love medieval castles that had artillery fortifications built around them in later centuries.
Realworld says
[Gennep Castle](https://www.martinustoren.nl/en/gennep-castle) (a.k.a. Genneper Huys)
The Siege of Gennep 1641 (translated from Dutch to English)
>The Siege of Gennep was a siege and capture of the Genneperhuis castle near Gennep in Limburg, the Netherlands, by the State army led by Frederik Hendrik during the Eighty Years’ War. The siege lasted from 28 June to 29 July 1641, after which Gennep was taken by the besiegers. While the state army was still entrenching itself for Gennep, Count de Fontaine attempted to prevent this. His army has since grown to 12,000 men and 4,000 horsemen were on their way to Blerick. On 22 June they approached Sambeek south of Boxmeer where the Count Herman Otto I of Limburg Stirum was stationed. Before taking action, Count de Fontaine wanted to try to strengthen the occupation at Gennep, and sent 2,000 men to an unfinished position for Gennep that had been claimed by the Prince of Orange. They left this position after the Lord of Beverweerd approached with an army. The Spaniards finally withdrew via the Kleefse Bossen to the main force. Two days later, the Count de Fontaine moved the army to Blerick.
>
> On June 28, State troops started digging two approaches in two directions. Two batteries bombarded Gennep from four sides. Digging the trenches was not without risk. Count Willem van Nassau had taken the control carp, and had to cross a dam of only three meters wide, which was also covered by a bastion. The besieged people crossed the dam on the other side, so that on 6 July all the branch forests washed away with which the prince had filled the Niers river. (He was wounded and would eventually die in 1642 from the wound he sustained during this siege.) This forced the prince to build a bridge, which was hampered by the besieged. Eventually the prince ordered a bridge to be built outside of range on July 14, and immediately ordered the construction of a ramp from which the city could be attacked. This allowed the States to take the earlier point, and from there take a Spanish jump, from which another horn could be undermined. The mine was ready on July 22, but the horn could be taken without making the mine jump. Now it was finally possible to start taking a bastion. In the meantime, the besieged had 500 dead and 700 wounded within the ranks.
>
> When they saw that a storm was imminent, they wanted to negotiate a surrender. On July 27, they were given the condition that they were allowed to go to Venlo with their weapons and two guns under the guidance of the State army. The clergymen too had to leave. The evacuation took place on July 29. The prince needed a month to repair the damage done to Gennep. The intake was accompanied by bonfire at the border places, and bells.
​