Huis ter Kleef

Kaatsbaan Huis ter Kleef
Kleverlaan 9, Haarlem
Special KLM Miniature – Unnumbered

Kaatsbaan Huis ter Kleef – Dutch heritage and the world’s oldest covered tennis court
In the green city park of De Hout in Haarlem lies the remarkable historic site of Huis ter Kleef, originally built around 1370 as a fortified castle for the Counts of Holland. During the Siege of Haarlem in 1573, most of the castle was destroyed by Spanish forces. Only parts of the structure remain, including the distinctive Kaatsbaan (Court).

The Kaatsbaan was constructed around 1560 by Hendrik van Brederode, a close ally of William of Orange and one of the early leaders of the Dutch resistance against Spanish rule. The building was designed as an indoor court for a predecessor of modern tennis, known as Real Tennis. During the siege, the Spanish used the Kaatsbaan as a prison. The game was played here until the second quarter of the 17th century. Since then, the building has served many purposes, including a farmhouse, storage space, and, since 1984, a canteen for the municipality of Haarlem.

The Dutch Cultural Heritage Agency (RCE) has officially recognized the Kaatsbaan as a monument of exceptional historical value. If the Real Tennis Club Huis ter Kleef succeeds in its restoration plans, this site could once again host matches—making it the oldest covered tennis court in the world still in use.

To honor this unique heritage site, a special Delft Blue miniature of the Kaatsbaan was released by KLM in collaboration with Bols. This miniature is not part of the numbered series and was never distributed on board KLM flights, making it a rare and highly sought-after collector’s item.