WORKING GROUP 7 
SCHELLART 
427 
Fig. 1. Castle of Kuinre: A. “aide bergh”; B. new castle 
a “new” one. The existence of this hitherto unknown castle was now proved 
by the aerial photograph. 
Similarly, the old castle of Wulven (Utrecht) was known to have been situated 
near the present village of Wulven. The aerial photograph again reveals the 
presence, within a limited area, of more than one fortification (fig. 2). Just 
right of centre of the picture is the present manor house, to the right of which 
a misleading circle can be seen. This is, in fact, part of a garden laid out in 
18th century style. In the lower left hand part we see the site of the former 
castle of Wulven and, finally, in the upper left hand corner a round area, 
enclosed by ditches, indicating the remains of a double circle of moats. Here 
we have a fortification whose existence had been completely unsuspected. 
Many other examples of discoveries of old castles could be given. Systematic 
study and scanning of photographs would certainly yield unexpected results. 
Strategic situation of castles 
The aerial photograph sometimes makes it clear why, from the point of 
view of defence, a particular place was chosen for the construction of a castle 
or fortification. An example may illustrate this. Aerial photographers have 
often been struck by the typical situation of the former castle of Oud-Haerlem. 
From some photographs it is very obvious that the fortification was built on a 
sandy ridge, which ensured both a solid foundation and an approach. The 
surrounding marshland always kept the moats filled.