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This part of the website gives comprehensive information about the Estate Twickel.
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Twickel castle
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Unique Heritage
Twickel Castle, near Delden, is located, for almost seven centuries in the middle of a beautiful estate, reaching out over five parishes. The estate in the East of the Netherlands, near the German border covers more than 4,000 hectares and includes 150 farms with agricultural land and meadows, interspersed with moorland, fens and woods. The oak woods have long been famous, not just because of their beauty, but also because of the quality of the wood they produce. The characteristic farms can be recognised by their black-and-white shutters.
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Baroness van Heeckeren van Wassenaer
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History
Between 1347 and 1953, Twickel was in the possession of successive members of the same family: Van Twickelo, Van Raesfelt, Van Wassenaer Obdam and Van Heeckeren van Wassenaer. Because it was also possible for the estate to be inherited through the female line, it always remained in the family. In 1953, Baroness Van Heeckeren van Wassenaer-Countess of Aldenburg Bentinck made over the entire estate to the Twickel Foundation. After her death in 1975, her other possessions, including estates in Germany and the provinces of Gelderland and Zuid-Holland in the Netherlands, together covering some 2000 hectares, were added to the Foundation. When she set up the Foundation, Baroness Van Heeckeren determined that the castle should remain inhabited. For this reason, her second cousin, Chr. Count Zu Castell and his family are presently residing in section of the castle. The castle is not open to the public. However, limited viewings in small groups are possible.
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Office situated in the "Rentmeesterij"
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Task of the board
By virtue of the deeds of the foundation, the task of the board of directors is as follows: to retain the estate as a nature reservation and heritage site, with the aim of perpetuating its historical importance. Its natural beauty and the character of its landscape must be maintained. However, in this connection, the board must strive towards a healthy financial stewardship.
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The gardens
As is the case with the castle, the landscaping of the gardens has been created over many generations. Alongside the castle there is a garden in the French neo-baroque style. The orangery to be found here dates, in its current form, to the first half of the 19th century, and serves as a winter shelter for many tropical and subtropical plants, including some 300-year-old orange trees. The ‘rock garden’ is situated next to the French garden, and is the personal creation of the last Lady of Twickel, Baroness van Heeckeren Van Wassenaer. In this Victorian garden, she liked to experiment with unusual plants and was inspired by the English landscape gardener, Gertrude Jekyll. The landscaping of the surrounding estate dates from about 1790. In 1830 or thereabouts, this romantic scene was extended by J.D. Zocher. And in 1888, Edouard Petzold made his mark on the extensive grounds around the castle. Recently, a restoration project is completed, based on a design by the well known Dutch landscape architect Michael van Gessel.
The gardens are open to the public from the beginning of May until the end of October. The entrance can be found opposite the car park on the Twickelerlaan. The estate shop is also situated here and is open throughout the year. From June to September, the orangery is in use as a teahouse.
Next to the gardens are he walled kitchen gardens and a farmmuseum. On the estate are several places for refreshments and overnight stays.
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