In a document from 885 to 896 the settlement is called "Thorhem", a dwelling of
Thor, the god of thunder.
Vikings quartered at
Dorestad (now
Wijk bij Duurstede) reportedly referred to the place as Thorhem, as the god of thunder was worshipped there. Archaeological excavations on a moor at the estate of Hoog Moersbergen, north of Doorn, have revealed evidence of a pagan sacrificial site. Later, the settlement of Thorhem became part of the homestead known as Villa Thorhem. Around 1200, this homestead was in the possession of a
provost of the
Bishopric of Utrecht. One of his successors built a castle in the 14th century – now known as
Huis Doorn – and established the Maartenskerk ("St. Martin's Church") around 1200. The church was extended in the 15th century and later passed into Protestant hands around 1585, remaining in use as a Protestant church. Another castle, Kasteel Moersbergen, was first mentioned in 1435 and has undergone several alterations since the 17th century. The expansive estate around Huis Doorn left little room for town expansion until 1874, when the estate was parcelled out. After
World War II, the town experienced significant growth and today it also hosts a major base for the
Royal Dutch Marines. Nearby is the Von Gimborn Arboretum, one of the botanical garden sites of
Utrecht University. Doorn was an independent municipality until 1 January 2006, after which it became the principal town in the municipality of
Utrechtse Heuvelrug. The town also supports its own football club, DEV Doorn. == Notable inhabitants ==