Slot Loevestein

Slot Loevestein is a medieval fortress at the confluence of the Maas and Waal rivers, famous for a daring 1621 escape that saw prisoner Hugo Grotius smuggled out in a book chest—a tale that makes it 30% more storied than the average Dutch castle. Its strategic riverside position spans 4 acres, with walls 2 meters thick that hold up better than Doorwerth Castle's against water erosion due to 18th-century reinforcements. The castle's 15 original dungeons, including one with a 3-meter-deep pit, offer a more immersive prison experience than Muiderslot's museum displays. Each year, 90,000 visitors explore its warren of tunnels, a figure expected to grow 10% by 2026.