Jaap van 't Veen's photos with the keyword: Baja Sajonia

Burg Lage (Lage Castle) dates from the 14th century and belonged to the possessions of the bishop of Utrecht. Later, it came into the possession of King Philip II of Spain. At the end of the 16th century, the castle was renovated. In the course of the Eighty Years' War (or Dutch revolt), which gave the Netherlands its independence, Burg Lage was blown up and never rebuilt. Since then, it has remained a ruin and its thick walls are overgrown with ivy. Lage, or officially “Herrlichkeit Lage”, refers to the time between the end of the Thirty Years' War and the year of 1803, in which Lage was an independent small state with its own jurisdiction. Since the late 19th century large parts of Lage are Dutch-owned, since 1977 by the Dutch “Twickel Foundation”.

The watermill in Lage was first officially mentioned in the year of 1270. It was about 200 years later that King Philip II of Spain, as ruler of the Netherlands, approved building of a mill on the river Dinkel. It is supposed that this was a reconstruction or expansion of an existing mill. The current mill looks like it is from the late 17th century. A distinguishing feature is the two undershot waterwheels that drive both a flour mill and an oil mill. In the early years of the 20th century, electricity was also generated at the mill to supply the community of Lage. After World War I, the oil mill was shut down. The grist mill kept running until 1957, although the last years by a diesel engine. After the last miller’s death, the mill stood empty. In 1962, when the building was threatening to fall down, the most urgent safety work started. Ten years later, Grafschaft Bentheim brought about a comprehensive restoration on the mill, giving it once more its two waterwheels and restoring the weir to improve flow rates. Nowadays the mill can be run again. (Lage, or officially Herrlichkeit Lage), refers to the time between the end of the Thirty Years' War and the year of 1803, in which Lage was an independent small state with its own jurisdiction. Since the late 19th century large parts of Lage are Dutch-owned, since 1977 by the Dutch ‘Twickel Foundation’.)

Clemenswerth Castle (Schloss Clemenswerth) was erected as a hunting lodge for Elector Clemens August I of Bavaria. It was built between 1737 and 1747 in baroque style. The complex consists of a main building (which was only used by the elector), surrounding lodges for guests, a chapel (PiP’s) with monastery and a large kitchen. Clemenswerth (meaning Island of Clemens) is the only remaining star-shaped hunting complex in the world and is considered being one of the most unique castles in Germany. The buildings are surrounded by a baroque garden with flowerbeds, hedges and avenues with imposing trees. Nowadays 18th century Clemenswerth Castle houses the Emslandmuseum and numerous events take place in the buildings and grounds.

The watermill in Lage was first officially mentioned in the year of 1270. It was about 200 years later that King Philip II of Spain, as ruler of the Netherlands*, approved building of a mill on the river Dinkel. It is supposed that this was a reconstruction or expansion of an existing mill. The current mill looks like it is from the late 17th century. A distinguishing feature is the two undershot waterwheels that drive both a flour mill and an oil mill. In the early years of the 20th century, electricity was also generated at the mill to supply the community of Lage. After World War I, the oil mill was shut down. The grist mill kept running until 1957, although the last years by a diesel engine. After the last miller’s death, the mill stood empty. In 1962, when the building was threatening to fall down, the most urgent safety work started. Ten years later, Grafschaft Bentheim brought about a comprehensive restoration on the mill, giving it once more its two waterwheels and restoring the weir to improve flow rates. Nowadays the mill can be run again. The former miller’s dwelling houses a tea parlour (Grafschafter Teestube). *Lage, or officially ‘Herrlichkeit Lage’, refers to the time between the end of the Thirty Years' War and the year of 1803, in which Lage was a self-standing small state with its own jurisdiction. Since the late 19th century large parts of Lage are Dutch-owned, since 1977 by the Dutch ‘Twickel Foundation’.