Henricus Leonardus van den Houten: View on the castle 'Hof van Wena' (1825)

(University of Leiden, Leiden, The Netherlands)

A print made by the Dutch-Australian artist Henricus Leonardus van den Houten (1801- 1879). The castle 'Hof van Wena' ('the court of Wena') was a small castle that was located in the neighbourhood of the current Station Hofplein in the city of Rotterdam. It was build in 1136, probably as a last resort for the owners of castle Bulgersteyn. The court of Wena was destroyed in 1426 during the Hook and Cod wars. The remains of the castle survied until the 19th century. The name 'court of Wena' refers to the use of the castle as a courthouse for the surrounding area. This print shows a fantasy view on the castle. the name Wena is now used as a streetname in Rotterdam. Also the heraldic colours of the lords of Wena (green and white) are used in the coat-of-arms of the city of Rotterdam (a demand of the lords of Wena after the castle and the surrounding area was annexed in 1570 by Rotterdam). Print from 1825.