When exactly it was built is unknown, but the castle was completed before the St. Lucia's Flood of 13 December 1287.

[1] On 24 June 1517 the castle saved some of the Medemblik townsfolk from the raids of Grutte Pier and his Arumer Zwarte Hoop (a band of marauding pirates).

In 1931 a cannery near the castle burnt down exposing the foundations of a tower on the north west of the site and during 1936 the castle-moat was restored.

From 1964 to 1965 further restorations were done with a more historical and architectural correctness and some of the previous renovations were removed.

[3] On 4 September 1939 The Night Watch by Rembrandt was stored here temporarily before being moved in May 1940 to a bunker in the dunes near Castricum.