Sabbinge Castle

Sabbinge Castle, also known as Huis te Sabbinge or "Hoge Huis," is a small water castle located in Oud-Sabbinge on the former island of Wolphaartsdijk in the Netherlands. Built around 1250, the castle was constructed of brick and represents an example of a tower house design, a fortified residential structure intended to function as a self-contained, defensible dwelling. The castle sits on the western fringe of the hamlet of Oud-Sabbinge, which was historically part of one of three lordships on the island situated between Noord-Beveland and Zuid-Beveland.

The tower house featured distinctive architectural elements designed for security and comfort. It included a vaulted basement and a main hall where residents lived, with walls approximately 80 centimeters thick on all sides. The main floor contained four large windows with an innovative safety feature: wooden shafts built into the walls flanking each window allowed occupants to insert protective bars during times of danger. A fireplace adorned the northern wall. A moat surrounded the castle until 1832, further enhancing its defensive capabilities.

Archaeological evidence suggests the structure underwent a second construction phase, during which an eight-sided stair tower was added to the western wall, diminishing the building's original defensive design. This addition, along with the construction of the large windows, may have coincided with a shift toward greater comfort and livability. The castle remains private property and is not open to the public, though it has been restored in recent years. Foundations discovered in the nineteenth century suggest the tower house may have originally been part of a larger complex.