Duitse Huis (Teutonic House), Utrecht

The Duitse Huis (Teutonic House) is a complex of historic buildings in Utrecht. Its older parts once belonged to a monastery of the Bailiwick of Utrecht of the Teutonic Knights, established in 1348.

Back then, the monastery church, large as it was, dominated the area. Most of the land commanders of the order, prominent citizens of Utrecht, were buried there. In 1674 the monastery was badly damaged by a windstorm, and the church, ruined, had to be demolished. One of its bays (out of total seven or eight), measuring over 5.5 meters (18 ft) wide, however, has survived. The sacristy, the main building, the kitchen with outbuildings and the Commander's house have also remained. The "knights room" in the Commander's house was used as a provisional church. In the year 1700, the 14th-century façade was truncated.

Originally Catholic, the order became Protestant during the Reformation.

Napoleon's brother, Louis Bonaparte, bought the property in 1807. After the fall of Napoleon and the restoration of the House of Orange, in 1815 the Bailiwick was revived by royal decree of King William I. During his reign, a very modern (for that time) hospital was added to the complex. Completed in 1823, it had remained military property up until 1990.

The Duitse Huis was registered as a national monument on 20 June 1967.

Eventually, the property was sold back to the Bailiwick of Utrecht, and a major renovation commenced in 1992. Some of the older buildings are once again housing headquarters of the Bailiwick of Utrecht, which is now a charity, and contain an important collection of medieval manuscripts, coins and pictures. Other buildings, including the former hospital, have been converted into a five-star hotel, called the Grand Hotel Karel V.