Real Tennis recently took a big step towards returning to Holland.  The City of Haarlem has agreed to our proposal to restore the real tennis court at Huis ter Kleef.  The court is, among covered courts, the world’s oldest and is now used by the city primarily as a canteen. The challenge now is to raise approx. €1,200,000 for the substantial rebuilding required. The court, complete with its proud little tower, was built around 1560 by Hendrik van Brederode next to his castle and tennis was played there likely until the early 1600s.  Hendrik was a close friend and ally of William of Orange and in the turbulent year 1566 was the leader of the rebellion against the Spanish. The castle was largely destroyed by Don Federico during the siege of Haarlem of 1573, but Hendrik’s kaatsbaan was spared, not for Federico’s love of the game, but to be used as a prison. An eyewitness reported that many prisoners died on the tennis court because “Federico had promised them their lives but not their food”. 

Restoring this unique monument will be a major project. The refurbishments on the tennis court will be conducted with a great degree of authenticity, in tune with mid-sixteenth century practice. The original kaatsbaan walls still exist, but the interior structure requires substantial architectural adjustments and renovations. The roof is in a dilapidated state and needs to be restored. Besides upper windows will have to be installed and all the architectural features of a tennis court will have to be incorporated, including a flagstone floor and lighting. The present office spaces will be transformed into a bar/lounge, meeting room and changing facilities. The building will also be used to serve as a tennis museum, with displays of old tennis exhibits in the penthouse corridor(s) and within various club facilities. The items displayed should guide the visitor through 500 years of tennis history, starting with a game on the kaatsbaan. Holland could pride itself on at least 150 tennis courts in the seventeenth century.