Lost in time, the remnants of Kasteel ter Wijc whisper tales of knights and turbulent times. We stand on the edge of Oosterwijkvijver. Here lies the island that was once home to this formidable castle.
Kasteel ter Wijc dates back to the 13th century. It emerged shortly after the sale of the Heemskerk domain in 1248. The first recorded mention of Ter Wijc appeared in 1333.
Legend says disaster struck in 1351. The Kabeljauwen, during the Hookse and Kabeljauwse feuds, likely destroyed the castle. It was later known as Oosterwijck. Nearby castles included Marquette, Assumburg, Oud Haerlem, Merestein, Poelenburg, and Adrichem.
Wouter van Egmond was the first lord of Kasteel ter Wijc. His descendants owned it until 1366. Then, Ridder Coen Cuser van Oosterwijk purchased the castle. His heiress, Ida Cuser Oosterwijk, married Jan van Foreest. Upon Ida’s death, her son Adriaan van Foreest inherited the estate.
Sadly, in 1856, the remaining visible parts of Kasteel ter Wijc were demolished. For a time, it seemed the castle would fade entirely from memory.
But history has a way of resurfacing. In 1958, the Rijksdienst voor het Oudheidkundig Bodemonderzoek rediscovered the site. An excavation revealed a 13th-century residential tower representing the castle’s initial phase. They also found a corner tower with a shield wall dating back to around 1400. These finds offered a glimpse into the castle’s evolution.
Though the castle is mostly gone, its legacy lives on. The care home “Huis Ter Wijck” in Beverwijk bears witness to the name “Huis Ter Wijc.” The Beverwijk neighborhood of “Oosterwijk-Zwaansmeer” preserves the name “Oosterwijck”.
Kasteel ter Wijc stands as a reminder of Beverwijk’s rich past. It evokes images of medieval life. It prompts us to reflect on the families and conflicts that shaped this region. Though time has taken its toll, the spirit of Kasteel ter Wijc endures in the landscape and local memory.