Heerlen is a city and a municipality in the southeast of the Netherlands. It is the third largest settlement proper in the province of Limburg. Measured as municipality, it is the fourth municipality in the province of Limburg.
Hoensbroek is a Dutch town in the municipality of Heerlen. It is situated in the southeast of Limburg, a province in the southeast of the Netherlands. Until 1982, Hoensbroek was a separate municipality.
Henry II "the Rich" of Nassau, German: Heinrich II. "der Reiche" von Nassau was Count of Nassau. He distinguished himself in particular by his chivalrous and devout spirit. He was charitable and made great donations to the church, so that the monasteries and prayer houses in the area of present-day Nassau experienced the most significant bloom in his time. The greatest favour was the Teutonic Order to enjoy, to which he donated especially for the renunciation of his brother's, upon his entry into the order. Henry participated in the Sixth Crusade. He was the builder of the castles Sonnenberg, Ginsburg and Dillenburg.
Van Wassenaer is the name of an old Dutch noble family. It was first mentioned in the County of Holland on 3 November 1200. They are one of the few original noble families from Holland that has survived to this day. Members of the family carry the title of count or baron.
The House of Bylandt is the name of an ancient house of nobility originating in the Lower Rhine region. It later split into the cadet branches of Bylandt-Well, Bylandt-Rheydt and Bylandt-Halt-Spaldorf.
van Voorst tot Voorst is an old Dutch noble family from the province of Overijssel.
Schimmelpenninck is the name of the family belonging to the Dutch and German nobility, whose members played important political and military roles in the history of the Netherlands, Prussia and later in the German Empire.
The House of Rechteren is the name of an old noble family belonging to the Dutch and German nobility. The German branch of Countsvon Rechteren-Limpurg-Speckfeld has been mediatised.
The House of Lynden is one of the oldest families of the Dutch nobility, originating in the Duchy of Guelders. This family later gave rise to different branches. Most remained in the Netherlands and produced several Dutch politicians, ministers, and military leaders.
The Lords of Van Brederode were a noble family from Holland who played an important role during the Middle Ages and the Early modern period. The family had a high noble rank and hold the titles Count of Brederode, Count of Gennep, and furthermore they ruled the souverain Lordship of Vianen, the Viscountship of Utrecht among other feudal titles.
De Graeff is an old Dutch patrician and noble family,
Dudo of Laurenburg was probably Count of Laurenburg and is considered the founder of the House of Nassau. The House of Nassau would become one of the reigning families in Germany, from which are descended through females the present-day royals of the Netherlands and Luxembourg, while officially belonging to this House.
Arnold I of Laurenburg, German: Arnold I. von Laurenburg, was count of Laurenburg and an ancestor of the House of Nassau.
Van Meeuwen is a Dutch noble family.
Egmond Castle, also called the Ruins of Egmond, is a ruined medieval castle in the Dutch province of North Holland. It is located in Egmond aan den Hoef in the municipality of Bergen and lies about 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) west of Alkmaar. The castle dates from the 11th century and is the ancestral seat of the Egmond family, whose members became sovereign Dukes of Guelders, Counts of Egmond and Princes of Gavere, Counts of Buren and Leerdam. It is a national monument of the Netherlands.
Hoensbroek Castle or Gebrook Castle is one of the largest castles in the Netherlands. It is situated in Hoensbroek, a town in the province of Limburg. This imposing watercastle is known as 'the most lordly stronghold between Rhine and Meuse'. The oldest part of the castle, notably the tall round tower, dates from around 1360, when it was built by Herman Hoen, though a predecessor to the castle had already existed in the swamp the castle was located in. This so-called motte-and-bailey dated from around 1225. In 1250 a fortified manor was built on the location of the present castle. Because of its important strategical location in the Duchy of Brabant, located along important trading routes to Maastricht, Aachen and Cologne, the castle was expanded in several phases, becoming the largest stronghold between the Meuse and the Rhine rivers. It contains at least 67 halls, rooms and living quarters.
Lady Mary of Looz-Heinsberg, Dutch: Maria van Loon-Heinsberg, was a noble lady from the House of Looz and through marriage Countess of Nassau-Siegen.
Changuion is a Dutch, French and South African family of which a member was ennobled in the Netherlands in 1815.
Jonkheer François Daniël Changuion, commonly known as Daniël Changuion, was a Dutch administrator and diplomat. Some of his descendants settled in South Africa in the nineteenth century.
