Het Wapenplaatz
The second courtyard of the Castle is known as "Het Wapenplaatz' The name is evidently derived from the weapon inspections and drill exercises which regularly took place here. The well which is found here, formed part of the water supply system inside the Castle.
The soldiers' quarters were situated on the top, floor between Catzenellenbogen and Nassau. The middle floor was used as storage space. The hooks and large doors behind the hooks are still in evidence. Supplies were hoisted by rope, and swung through the doors. The workshops of tradesmen, as well as stables and storerooms were situated on the ground level.
From this courtyard the other two entrances to the Castle, are found. The larger entrance is known as Sally Port (an opening in a fortification through which to make "sally", in other words a sudden charge from a fortification upon its besiegers.
 |  |
The lawn on Het Wapenplaatz has been planted according to a Dutch garden design.
The paint used on the walls during restoration, is whitewash mixed with a colouring agent. The condition of the paint is not due to bad workmanship, but to the lack of moisture- resistant methods used during the construction of the Castle. Walls such as these must allow moisture through which is necessary to bind the clay bricks. If not, the walls will dry out and eventually crumble to pieces. Whitewash ensures that enough moisture is allowed through and retained without the wall appearing wet. The woodwork is painted in different colours.
 | |
| "Het Wapenplaatz" faces the back of the Governor's quarters. The large doors to the left of the arch were three coach houses for the use of the Governor. The last smaller door was the Governor's coal store. | Tradition has it that the windows painted in a reddish‑brown colour were the windows of rooms used to store ammunition and gunpowder. Another possible reason was that this was the only available paint at that time. |
The date on the stone above the arch is probably the date on which this part of the Castle was completed