History

Husum Castle, known as the Castle outside Husum because it once lay outside the town boundaries, is the only castle on the west coast of Schleswig-Holstein belonging to a local lord, and has always been of great importance for the town of Husum.

It was built by Prince Adolf of Schlewig-Holstein-Gottorf (1526-1586). From 1577 to 1582, it was constructed in the Dutch renaissance style. His ancestors from different lineages acceded to the Swedish throne, became Russian Tzars and Grand Dukes of Oldenburg.

In the 17th century the castle served as a home to the widows, Princess Augusta (1580-1639) and Princess Maria Elizabeth (1610-1684). Ornate fireplaces were installed, elegant furniture and beautiful paintings were bought to make life there as pleasant as possible. Artists were invited to the court and cultural interchange was thus encouraged.

Princess Augusta was a sister of King Christian IV of Denmark. She was related to various royal dynasties in Europe and the English King Karl I was her nephew. One of the ancestors of Princess Maria Elizabeth, (who was originally from Dresden) was none less than Katharina the Great of Russia.

In 1721, during the Nordic War, the Gottorf family lost its land north of the Eider to the Danish king. The ducal castle in Husum became a royal Danish castle.

Around the middle of the 18th century, the castle had become so run down that its demolition was considered. King Friedrich V of Denmark saved the castle and gave orders for it to be radically renovated. He set great store by ensuring the fireplaces were preserved. From 1750 to 1752, the castle was renovated in such a way that the King could spend time there. It had to feature the so-called state rooms, which were arranged in a prescribed order stipulated by court protocol. These state rooms are still intact today.

The later structural development of the castle was dictated by its use as an official building. The Danish Office of Husum became the Prussian District of Husum and after the local government reform in 1970, it became the District of Nordfriesland.