Kloosterkasteel Gemert

Nobleman Rutger van Gemert (ca. 1150 - ca. 1220) became a knight of the Teutonic Order during his lifetime. After his death he left his possessions to the order, and Gemert and Handel fell under their authority. The Teutonic Order was a spiritual order of knighthood with branches in Germany, Austria, Poland and the Baltic states. Gemert therefore did not fall under the Duke of Brabant, but was an independent state in the Netherlands for almost six centuries.

The Gemert commandery grew into an important and wealthy commandery. Construction of the castle started in 1391. From the 16th to the 18th century, the commandery became an important regional spiritual center, with its own Latin school from the 16th century.

In 1794 the free state came to an end. The fate of the castle was uncertain for a long time. After housing a mechanical cotton mill, it was purchased by Jesuits at the end of the 19th century. In 1916 the fathers and brothers of the Congregation of the Holy Spirit (Spiritines) moved into the castle. They too have now left the castle.

The main building of Gemert Castle was built in 1740 on the remains of the medieval cellars. In front of the main building is the oldest part, the former keep from 1548. You enter the grounds through the gatehouse from around 1600. The gardens and grounds of the castle surround the castle.