The Netherland’s largest castle, the striking red-and-white-striped De Haar Castle, is just on the outskirts of the lovely university town of Utrecht.
De Haar is a sight to behold — an impressive Neo-Gothic building surrounded by a moat and pristinely-manicured garden reminiscent of Versailles. The Dutch lifestyle is typically modest and practical, so it’s amazing to think of what a stir this building must have caused when it was built in 1892 — or rather rebuilt, as the current structure was built on the ruinous foundations of a 14th-century castle.
After touring the grounds, we headed inside for a tour of the interior. Here we learned a bit more about the fascinating couple that spent 15 years designing and building their “home away from home” in the Netherlands.
The site and ruins of the former castle were purchased by Etienne Gustave Frédéric Baron van Zuylen van Nyevelt van de Haar (yes, that’s one name) in 1892, who, rather conveniently, married Baroness Hélène de Rothschild just five years before embarking on the extensive renovation.
The castle has around 200 rooms, and while only a few of these are open to the public, the ones that are were lavishly decorated with period furnishings and many personal souvenirs the couple collected on their travels around the world.
How to Visit
De Haar Castle is best reached by car. A parking lot near the entrance costs €6 per vehicle. The castle is just a 20-minute drive from Utrecht’s old town and 30 minutes from Amsterdam, making it an easy day trip from the capitol city and is especially nice paired with a stroll around Utrecht. It’s also possible to take the bus from Utrecht Central — for more information, please refer to the De Haar Castle’s website.
Accessing the grounds costs just €6. For €17 per adult or €11 per child ages 4 to 12, you can tour the grounds plus the inside of the castle. Admission is free for Museumkaart holders. Click here to read more about museum passes in the Netherlands.
Opening hours
Castle 11.00 – 17.00 hours
Park 09.00 – 17.00 hours
