Kasteel de Haar, Utrecht, Netherlands

Visiting Kasteel de Haar

It was a slow start this Sunday morning as we climbed out of an Indian food coma. 

With the humid not-hot-and-sunny summer we've been experiencing in the Netherlands we thought it would be a great chance to go and explore an old castle. We set off late perhaps it was around 11am for Kastel de Haar, just half an hour south of Amsterdam and a little west of Utrecht city. 

Locally known as Kasteel de Haar, the De Haar Castle lies next to the village of Haarzuilens in the province of Utrecht. Surrounded by farm land as far as the eye could see we weren't expecting much but from the moment we saw the castle from the road we knew it was going to be a fabulous place to visit. 

Closer inspection across the moat

View across the French Buxus parterre garden

De Haar Castle was founded in the 14th century on sediment deposits along an arm of the river Rhine. It was first mentioned in documents around 1391. Originally the owner of De Haar Castle was a member of the Van de Haar family, who as a manservant of the Prince-bishop of Utrecht, had enough prestige to have a fortified residence built for himself and his family.

Ross's in front of the Grand Cour

In 1449 the castle became property of the Van Zuylen family through marriage and it was expanded into a pentagon shape with huge towers but after an argument with the then Bishop of Utrecht the castle was almost entirely destroyed.

From the late 1500s onwards, the castle fell into severe disrepair. In the late 1800s, the ruined castle passed to Baron Etienne van Zuylen and his wife: Hélène de Rothschild who came from the fabulously wealthy Rothschild banking family.

View towards the gate house

Baron Etienne was fascinated by his inherited ruins and wished to strengthen his ties to his ancestors, who had owned the site for hundreds of years. 

As a result, he drew on his wife’s significant wealth to entirely rebuild the medieval castle and over the next twenty years renovated the ruins into the grand gothic fairy-tale castle we saw as we drove in. 

Now the castle stands proudly, magnificently and beautifully renovated surrounded by an enclosed English styled landscaped garden. It is stunning, a true magical wonderland.

Kara by the stable windows

Entrance to the stable yards

After waltzing in for free with our new Dutch museum cards we started off at the stables which has been transformed into a beautiful restaurant and gift shop. The family colours and coat of arms hung above the doors, etched into the brick and surrounding the perimeter was a deep, dark looking moat.

Stable doors, stable yard

Working our way around

We ventured towards the rose gardens rewarded with a stunning view of the decadent home. If there was ever a fairy-tale castle this must surely be it. It had everything, moats, drawbridges, ramparts, fortress towers. It didn't matter where we stood the castle rose up out of the water that surrounded it with such elegance. 

Moving around towards the front side we passed by a small medieval town church but the town was no where to be seen. Interestingly, the look of the old village of Haarzuilens (which was mostly home to the castles staff) didn't appeal to the Baron and so the entire village which once stood close to the castle was broken down and carted off. 

The inhabitants were moved to a place a kilometer further up, where a new Haarzuilens arose and remains today (sans church). 

Haarzuilen town church

Guardians of the castle entrance

We were super duper excited to go in the castle. Like something out of a Disney film we could imagine a rapunzel sitting waiting for her prince in a tower. 

We bounded up the stairs passing by the large stone lions and winged gargoyles. Although the online reviews mentioned a compulsory walking tour through the castle we were able to amble about in our own time. 

An extravagant dinning hall

Castle lounge room

A kitchen ready to feed a feast

The interior of the castle was decorated with richly ornamented woodcarving and statues which is designed to remind one of the interior of a Roman Catholic Church. 

A little odd, but still striking given its size. We walked through lavish ballrooms, a poker room and even hair salon remenesent of the first half of the 1900's when the castle played host to a number of elite well off guests and celebrities. 

Ancient tapestries 

A rare collection of international treasures 

John stopping to smell the roses

After our ambles we explored more of the gardens, the roses were in bloom and smelt soo delicious.

We took a path down through an old English maze and following a long lake walked under huge oak trees where a family of swans effortless preened themselves. 

Exploring in the gardens

We were so glad to have taken the opportunity to see another magnificent European castle and will be eagerly on the hunt to top it! 

Tot siens,

John and Kara