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All the Netherlands Utrecht Castellum Hoge Woerd
AO Edited

Castellum Hoge Woerd

This recreated Roman outpost stands above its buried predecessor.

Utrecht, Netherlands

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Annebelle Olminkhof
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Castellum from above.   Romeinselimes1 / CC BY-SA 2.0
Castellum from above.   Romeinselimes1 / CC BY-SA 2.0
Castellum from behind.   Cornutus / CC BY-SA 4.0
Roman watchtower.   Romeinselimes1 / CC BY 2.0
The markings of a Roman bath in front of the Castellum.   Otter / CC BY-SA 4.0
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About

Over 2000 years ago, the Roman Empire's northern frontier (also known as the Limes) contained several outposts along the Rhine river. Some of these outposts were at the center of present-day Dutch cities, such as Utrecht.

Today, a recreated military outpost, Castellum Hoge Woerd, sits on top of the remains of the area's original Roman fortress still buried beneath the ground.

In 1997, an archaeological excavation in the Utrecht neighborhood of Leidsche Rijn discovered key Roman infrastructure, including a Roman ship and road. This led to the largest archaeological research project in the Netherlands to date, during which more ancient artifacts were discovered, such as the remains of a watchtower, artillery, and more ships.

In 2007, work began on a modern museum, the Castellum Hoge Woerd, to display these findings. The museum is a near-perfect recreation of the original Roman outpost, and was built in the same location and is the same size as its Roman predecessor.

One of the museum's showpieces is a Roman ship discovered during the excavations. Named the Meern 1, the ship is the most intact Roman river vessel ever found in northwestern Europe. A reconstructed Roman watchtower can also be seen just outside the main museum. 

The Castellum also contains Podium Hoge Woerd, a theatre for cultural performances, and a cafe.

Castellum Hoge Woerd is part of the Lower Germanic Limes, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Related Tags

Rivers Ships Military Military History Castles Restoration Fortresses Unesco Roman

Know Before You Go

The museum is free, but visitors are asked to register at the front desk. The location is easily accessible by car, and there is free parking in a lot outside of the building. The museum is a 20-minute bike or bus ride from Utrecht Central Station.

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annebelleo

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April 22, 2025

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  • https://www.ontdek-utrecht.nl/locatie/castellum-hoge-woerd/
  • https://erfgoed.utrecht.nl/verhalen/romeinse-limes
Castellum Hoge Woerd
1 Hoge Woerdplein
De Meern
Utrecht, 3454 PB
Netherlands
52.087236, 5.039777
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