MuidenTour

Muiden, a closer look

In the history of Muiden, founded over 1000 years ago, the year 953 was of special importance. In that year, king Otto signed over the village to the church of St Martin in Utrecht. The charter drawn up to that effect formed the basis of the celebrations in honour of Muiden’s 1000th anniversary in 1953.

The MRE Group, founded in 1996, carries the silhouette of Muiden Castle (the Muiderslot) in its logo, a symbol for real estate that incorporates location and character as key elements of a company’s activities. The first recorded evidence for the existence of a settlement at the Vecht estuary however dates from 777. The Frisians originally gave it its name: Amuthon, or mouth of the A, the A being the Vecht. The village’s name over time changed by way of the Romanised Amuda to Mude, Muyen and lastly Muiden.

Around 1280 Count Floris V commissioned the building of the Muiderslot at the Vecht estuary and what was then the Zuiderzee (now IJsselmeer) coast. Near the castle lay the only fordable river crossing to get from east (the county of Gelre) to west (the county of Holland) or vice versa. This meant the Muiderslot held a strategically very important position.

Whoever controlled the Muiderslot controlled access to Holland, Gelre and the diocese of Utrecht (by way of the Vecht). In the 17th century writer and historian P.C. Hooft took up residence in the Muiderslot, and ramparts and bastions were added to the castle. Through the ages the tactics and techniques used by the various attackers and defenders evolved.

The Muiderslot’s location and key role as a fort and defence remained important. In 1852 the castle was even included in the new Dutch Waterline and the Defence Line (Stelling) of Amsterdam. The island fort of Pampus, 3 kilometres off the coast from Muiden and visible from the Muiderslot, was constructed between 1887 and 1897 to guard the entrance to the IJ.

Through the centuries the Muiderslot’s location remained key. Location and character of commercial real estate as embodiment of the organisation! The Muiderslot stood for something! You might in effect say that Floris V as early as 1200 realised that real estate is a great communicator. By striking awe into potential attackers with its impressive character, the castle and its surroundings as real estate in effect constituted considerable added value.

Though the times have rendered the Muiderslot obsolete as a defence, it remains an impressive building on an impressive location. That is why we are proud to carry the Castle in our company logo and see so many analogies between the origins and development of Muiden and the development of the MRE Group. And precisely for that reason the MRE Group offices are located in Count Floris’s loft (see www.graaf-floris-v.nl).

The added value of commercial real estate, location and character, remains essential and forms one of the corporate values of the real estate business. Expertise in locations and expertise in real estate and how to add value are the MRE Group’s core business. Rooted in a rich history, with our focus on a solid future!

Today much of Muiden’s illustrious past can still be appreciated. A visit to the Muiderslot or Pampus especially brings home the town’s history. A number of websites, such as www.muidenvesting.nl and www.muiderslot.nl take you back to those times. And for true enthusiasts a lovely walking tour through Muiden has been set out.

Walking tour of Muiden - jump to PDF