From about mid-February through the first week of March, we paid a visit to Emily and Mees in Amsterdam. The visit was one that was equal parts vacation and work, in a sense. We timed the trip to help them with moving to another apartment in the city. So after a week of packing, moving, and cleaning, we took the opportunity to do some sightseeing.
Sitting at a McDonalds on the outskirts of Den Haag, we were trying to figure out a fun activity to kill some time before heading to Delft for dinner. We had picked up a car share, so we didn’t have to factor in train schedules, but we still wanted something within about an hour’s drive. While finishing up our fries, Mees asked whether we would be interested in visiting an old castle. Ever up for an adventure of historical sorts, we answered in the affirmative and headed towards Utrecht to pay a visit to Kasteel de Haar.
While the castle was renovated and restored to its current state toward the end of the nineteenth century, the property has a much longer history. The earliest mention of the house of De Haar was back in 1391. Though the exact layout of the great house is unknown, it is said that a member of the family Van der Haar served the prince-bishop of Utrecht, gaining enough stature to be able to construct a fortified residence. This property passed to the family Van Zuylen via marriage during the fifteenth century.
Centuries passed and the castle fell into disrepair. Time, weather, and wars took their toll on the structures. However, when Baron Etienne van Zuylen van Nijevelt inherited the property from his grandfather, he decided to rebuild the residence, financed with the fortune of his wife, Hélène de Rothschild. Pierre Cuypers, the architect who designed both the Rijksmuseum and Amsterdam Centraal station, was contracted to rebuild the castle, which restored in the Neo-Gothic architectural style reminiscent of medieval Europe.
We visited the grounds of the largest castle in the Netherlands on a cold February Saturday. The plan was to walk the grounds, which boast expansive gardens, and explore the castle’s opulent interior. But the wind was howling and there was a chill in the air. We were eager to get inside where it was warmer. After purchasing our timed tickets, we headed over to the main castle building.
While the grounds have their history beginning in medieval times, the Baron and Baroness were anything but. Pierre Cuyper and the Baron collaborated on the layout of the abode, keeping the footprint. The castle was outfitted with many modern amenities: luxurious bedrooms, a Turkish bath, hot running water, central heat, electricity, and much more.
We walked through the great hall and through the many rooms of the house. Every detail was thoughtfully executed. The Baron and Baroness lived rather ostentatiously, with a number of tapestries, antiques, and works of art on display throughout the house.
The kitchen was state of the art for the time. This worked well for the couple, who loved to entertain their family and friends.
After exploring the kitchen, and looking longingly at the expansive collection of copper cookware, we headed back to the museum shop. We retrieved our belongings from the lockers, and headed out. We debated on whether we would visit the gardens, but as we walked over the bridge spanning the moat, a strong gust of wind blew past us. This was our sign to forgo the gardens and head to the Tuynhuis Gabrielle, a grab and go cafe in the gardens area. We enjoyed cakes and hot drinks before heading back into the cold. It was a restful little break, and a nice way to end the visit.
Some things to consider:
While this post highlights the castle itself, the park and gardens are expansive. Kasteel de Haar encompasses 135 acres (55 hectares). There was much we did not get to see with our limited time and the cold, windy weather. We found out from staff that the castle receives about 450000 visitors annually, many of whom visit in the warmer months. I can see why. There are many lovely walks on the grounds.
Admission at time of writing is €21.50 for adults, €13.50 for children aged 4-12, and free for children under 4. It is also free for museum card holders. This made the visit more economical for us. We only had to purchase two full-price tickets; Emily and Mees had their museum cards.
There are ways to get to the castle utilizing public transportation from Utrecht. We got to the castle via car, which took us through some pretty farm areas. There is a €7.50 fee to park in the lot, which we paid when we purchased our tickets for admission.
For school-age children, there is a kids program. We saw a number of children carrying Noet Noet the castle cat, a ‘talking’ knuffle that provides a fun guided tour to engage kids and help them learn about the history of the castle. For more information, check out the Kasteel de Haar site.
There is much more to see at this historic site. It would be fun to return to Kasteel de Haar when it is warmer and more flowers are in bloom. If ever in the vicinity of Utrecht, it is definitely worth a visit. There is much adventure meant to be shared on these castle grounds.
References:
“History and Reconstruction: Castle de Haar.” Kasteel de Haar, 2025, http://www.kasteeldehaar.nl/en/historie-en-herbouw/.
The Cranky Camper 