Ruin of Castle Hellenburg

Baarland, Netherlands, Netherlands

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Ruin of Castle Hellenburg is a medieval water castle remnant near Baarland village in Zeeland province, Netherlands, with foundations tracing to a late 13th-early 14th century fortified residence built by the Van Renesse family after receiving lands in 1312 from Count Willem III of Holland. Expanded around 1450 by Frederick van Renesse into a 40x30 meter complex with a donjon, eight towers (round and square), outer walls, and a wooden bridge to the bailey amid regional power struggles, it likely fell into disuse or destruction after the 1477 St. Elizabeth Flood. Excavated in 1957-1958 by archaeologist J.G.N. Renaud during land reclamation plans, the brick-rebuilt foundations were preserved by the Stichting Hellenburg foundation despite local opposition, now forming an open-air historical site.