Castle De Haar located outside Utrecht, Netherlands.

The Majestic Medieval De Haar Castle

De Haar Castle, a unique gem in the ‘Knights of the Round Table’ tradition, beckons with its rich history, stunning architecture, and mystical atmosphere. Its uniqueness is not just in its grandeur, but in the stories it holds, making it a truly captivating experience.

Castle De Haar is located about 40km south of Amsterdam, Netherlands, and it has everything: incredible buildings, an incredible interior, and beautiful gardens.

Castle De Haar was built in the 14th century as a medieval fortress. Its name, “Haar,” means “high” or “tall” in Dutch. It is the largest and most luxurious Castle in the Netherlands!

A brick castle gate, reminiscent of De Haar Castle, boasts two round towers and a central archway. Adorned with decorative shields and a red sign at the entrance, the grand structure evokes tales of the Knights of the Round Table. Trees frame it under a clear blue sky.

The imposing and majestic entrance fortifications and drawbridge are a promise of what’s to come.

De Haar Castle, reminiscent of the era of the Knights of the Round Table, stands with its tall, pointed towers and red-brick walls amidst a landscaped garden with lush green lawns and winding pathways under a clear blue sky.

First view of the Castle & gardens, pinch yourself, you’re not dreaming. There is nothing plain or ordinary about this Castle!

The Castle was destroyed during the 80 Years’ War (1568-1648) and lay in ruins for centuries. It was rebuilt in a romanticised medieval style, and the current Castle is an example of Gothic Revival architecture, featuring turrets, towers, and ornate stone carvings.

The imposing and detailed front facade and main entrance. The Castle has 200 rooms and 30 bathrooms, and a ton of richly ornamented woodcarving and stone sculptures are everywhere.

At the end of the 19th century, Baron Etienne van Zuylen van Nijevelt inherited the uninhabitable and very dilapidated Castle De Haar. Later, with his wife, Baroness Hélène de Rothschild, who was from the richest family in the world, the Castle De Haar was restored to its current form.

They enlisted architect Pierre Cuypers, famous for designing the Rijksmuseum and Central Station in Amsterdam.

The Main Hall (top left) is an imposing, high-roofed area that was the former courtyard of Castel de Haar. The space looks like a cathedral and a luxury hotel lobby at the same time. The 18-meter-high curved wooden roof is impressive, and the beautifully detailed and colourful stained glass windows depict historical scenes and highlights of the Castle and the family. The detail of this whole space is mesmerising.

One section of the stained glass windows that adds different and varied lighting to this impressive area.

An ornate ceiling fixture(top right). The spike was apparently a ghost catcher. The resident knights believed that if they died in bed, their ghosts would wander the rooms forever, and the spike would capture their ghost, trapping it until the rising sun turned them to dust. The spikes are placed at regular intervals around the borders of many ceilings in the Castle (see image below).

This intricately carved and ornate one is one of the many impressive fireplaces in the Castle. In the centre, it depicts Adam and Eve eating the fruit, with two family marriages on either side. The gold text in Dutch, some of which are on the sides of the fireplace, reads, “The fear of the Lord is a crown of wisdom, fulfilling the peace and fruit of salvation.”

Four pictures of an iconic Europe attraction, the De Haar Castle interior outside Utrecht Netherlands showing the lavish main bedroom and bathroom with two ornate rooms with incredibly detailed ceilings.

The tasteful pink colours in Baroness Hélène’s bedroom are a stark contrast to the other 199 castle rooms. She arranged for her own family architect to complete the design of her room.

One of the 30 bathrooms with a sunken bath. The Castle had the most modern comforts of its time, with electric lighting powered by its own generator and central heating using steam.

As mentioned earlier, the Knights’ Hall (top right) has distinctive ghost spikes along the sides of the ceiling. Above the entrance door, ‘To the most chivalrous of knights’ is written, and there are many references to medieval knighthood and mythical heroes around the room. Guests were welcomed here with tea and snacks, and in the evening, cigars and whiskey were served before and after dinner, mainly for the men.

The Ballroom (bottom right) was where lavish balls and parties occurred. It was an important part of noble life, which the Baron and Baroness loved. They met at a masked ball in Paris, where Etienne dressed as Hercules with a club impressed Hélène. Even though both their families were against it, they were married in 1887.

Imagine being on the guest list for one of their parties. Rich and famous guests include Gregory Peck, Roger Moore, Yves Saint Laurent, Joan Collins and Brigitte Bardot. For those who are old enough to remember the names, otherwise, there’s always Google.

It is a dream place for a wedding and reception. With a large Chapel located next to the Castle, I can only imagine the amazing pictures and a reception in the lavish Main Hall or Ballroom! The problem is that the Castle is only available for rental in the evening from 6:30 PM to 11:00 PM, and this will set you back € 8,950.00 (about R180 000) per evening in 2024, excluding catering, furniture, entertainment, decoration, and other extras. It will definitely only happen in the imagination!

The impressive gardens, which cover 135 acres, are made all the more so with autumn colours everywhere. The park has about 7,000 large trees, which were planted almost fully grown to ensure the landscape was well-established from
day one.

There are numerous serine ponds, lakes, canals, elegantly manicured flower beds and winding paths to explore. There is also a large hedge maze and local wildlife in the deer park.

During WW2, the Nazis made numerous attempts to take over De Haar Castle, including trying to confiscate the estate on the grounds of Jewish ownership in 1944. But the tricks and schemes of its Steward, Hendrik de Greef, prevented this from happening. No details are available but it would make interesting reading.

In 2000, the Baron and Baroness passed ownership of the Castle to a foundation to carry out the necessary and ongoing restoration and protect it for the future. They retained the right to spend one month per year in the Castle, traditionally in September. After their death, this right passed on to their daughters.

There are those occasions when perfect timing gives a once-in-a-lifetime picture without the need for any Photoshop edits.

Four people sit on the grass in front of the majestic De Haar Castle, its turrets reminiscent of the Knights of the Round Table era. On this bright day, red and white flowers adorn the green lawn, evoking an enchanting sense of history. All four appear relaxed and happy.

We have seen most of the best castles in central and eastern Europe, and De Haar Castle stands out as one of the best. It must definitely be on any travel bucket list!

Add Da Haar Castle to your own Google Map – Places to Visit – Wish List. Watch this video to find out how. 

De Haar Castle official website which will help you plan your visit in more detail.

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