Oudaen City Castle, Utrecht

Oudaen is a fortified medieval castle located at number 99 on the Oudegracht in Utrecht, and is one of the city's most important architectural monuments. Back in the 12th-14th centuries, the wealthy noble families built large properties on the Oudegracht, of which Oudaen is now best preserved in its medieval appearance.

First built in the 1270s, as a family home, like the other "city castles" of that period it comprises a large, imposing main building and a considerably smaller side one that was easier to heat and subsequently more suitable to live in.

Oudaen was originally owned by the Zoudenbalch family, one of the most prominent families in Utrecht. In 1395, it came into the possession of another wealthy local family, the Oudaens, and has kept their name ever since.

During the siege of Vredenburg Castle in 1576-1577, the house, and particularly its rear façade, suffered severe damage. A number of bullet holes left in the wall serve as a reminder of that time. During the negotiations for the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713, one of the key players in the diplomatic process, the French envoy Melchior de Polignac, was accommodated here.

In 1758 the house lost its private function when the deacon of the Reformed Church bought it and converted it to a retirement home; Oudaen had served in this capacity until 1965.

During a 19th-century modernization, the pointed Gothic arches above windows on the front façade were removed and the battlements along the rampart replaced by a balustrade. The battlements on the side and rear facades were preserved.

Over the centuries, Oudaen has had many tenants and been used for different purposes. As of 1986, following a thorough restoration, it has been housing a catering facility.