title: Amstenrade
text: # Amstenrade
  
  Amstenrade is a village in the municipality of Beekdaelen, in the Netherlands. It is located about 7 km northwest of Heerlen. The Amstenrade Castle is located in the village.
  
  ## History
  
  The village was first mentioned in 1274 as Anstenroden, and means "cultivation of the forest of Ansto (person)". Amstenrade developed in the Middle Ages on a plateau. The area was cultivated in the 13th century from the Geleenbeek onwards. It was originally a heerlijkheid. In 1654, it was elevated to county. The village concentrated around Amstenrade Castle and the road from Sittard to Heerlen.
  
  The Catholic Our Lady of Immaculate Conception Church is a three aisled church with two tower which was built between 1852 and 1856. In 1932, it was enlarged according to a design by Pierre Cuypers and his son Joseph Cuypers.
  
  Amstenrade was home to 502 people in 1840. Between 1839 and 1982, Amstenrade was a separate municipality. It became part of the municipality of Beekdaelen in 2019.
  
  ## Amstenrade Castle
  
  The original Amstenrade Castle [nl] dated from the late-13th century. The tower is the oldest extant part and dates from 1609. In 1780, most of the castle was demolished, and a new castle was built in neoclassic style, however the right wing and north-eastern tower remained unchanged. The castle is still in use as a residential house.
  
  ## Gallery
  
  * Amstenrade Castle
  * Catholic church
  * House in Amstenrade
  * Farm in Amstenrade
  