The Olt Stoutenburght Castle that Halman first started building 34 years ago in his back garden in Blesdijke. Photos: Nick Gammon/AFP
The pensioner, real name Gerry Halman, has spent 34 years on his labour of love, painstakingly sourcing materials from dozens of countries, drawing inspiration from China, the Roman Empire and ancient Egypt. Above the vaunted main hall hangs a metal chandelier from Istanbul and ornate Jugendstil iron railings from Libya.The room is equipped with a wooden bar taken from the Orient Express dining wagon, embossed with signs entreating gentlemen not to urinate on the floor.
On top of the 26m-high building coils a dragon made from hundreds of pieces of recycled metal – a nod to the Chinese tradition of protecting the home. “The mayor said: ‘He’s crazy. He is not a builder. He has no architecture experience and he wants to build a castle’.”However, he eventually won planning permission after much back-and-forth with the authorities, so long as the castle was lower than 28m.It’s all self-financed but he has no idea what the total bill is – “Don’t ever ask how much it costs, otherwise you would never dare do it.”“I have a motto. You can always improve on beauty.