p> The Wedderborg is named after the nearby village of Wedde and dates back to the 15th century. The oldest preserved part of the castle is the cellar, which dates from the second half of the fifteenth century. Today, the castle serves as a youth hotel for young people facing social and societal challenges. The castle and its museum are free to visit.
The Addinga family, who held a prominent political position in Westerwolde as early as the fourteenth century, were among the first inhabitants of the castle. The family attempted to expand their influence in the north, but faced resistance from the local population. The Addinga's ruled with an iron fist, and under the castle, a dungeon existed where dissenters were imprisoned and tortured.
The bailiff Hackfort succeeded the Addinga family, treating the local inhabitants no better. Berend van Hackfort, appointed as bailiff by Charles of Gelre, took control of the castle in the early sixteenth century and continued the torture practices. Under his management, the castle was reinforced due to his involvement in military actions.
Regularly shelled: Due to its strategic location, the castle frequently changed ownership, especially during and after the Eighty Years' War. This was often not without violence. The stained-glass windows were demolished to melt down bullets, and the castle itself was struck by cannon fire. Despite restoration attempts in the seventeenth century, the castle remained in poor condition.
The Koning family saved the castle from demolition in 1829 when the city of Groningen planned to sell it for destruction. Notary Arnold Hendrik Koning bought the castle, had the prison tower demolished, and began restoration work. The Wedderborg remained in the Koning family for over a hundred years. In 1955, the family sold it to the Westerwolde Water Board, which carried out a thorough restoration after finding that previous repairs were mostly cosmetic.
The Gardens: The Wedderborg borders the nature reserve of Westerwolde and is surrounded by a moat and a tree-lined ring, although it never had the opportunity or funds for a formal ornamental garden due to the damage sustained over the centuries.
The Estate: The estate is bordered to the north by the village of Wedde, with the first houses visible from the castle. To the south lies a beautiful nature reserve with hiking trails along picturesque stream valleys and expansive meadows in the Westerwolde region.
