Between 1076 and 1080, Count Hermann II had a fortified castle built in Dalhem, opposite the Duchy of Limburg. To get there, you had to cross a drawbridge and enter through the “Porte d'En Bas” (Lower Gate) or arrive through the “Porte d'En Haut” (Upper Gate). In between, you will find the old city centre.
In 1243, the county was conquered by the Duke of Brabant. It was ceded to the Dukes of Burgundy around 1387 and passed into the hands of the Habsburgs in 1477. Unfortunately, the region suffered from many conflicts. The castle was destroyed by the inhabitants of Liège in 1370 and again in 1465.
Around 1520, the Wichet de la Rose was dug into the wall to create a shorter route to the lower city.
In the 16th and 17th centuries, the county of Dalhem was constantly at stake in the religious wars between the Catholic Spaniards and the Calvinists from the United Provinces. After its capture and total destruction by the Dutch in 1648, the castle was never rebuilt. A few years later, the Dutch regime built the magnificent town hall.
In 1714, the building that had housed the 15th-century castle chapel was replaced by a new tower, which is still part of the current church. From 1772, a large spinning mill contributed to the international textile boom. In 1794, the county of Dalhem disappeared under French rule.