Kasteel de Haar
The largest castle in the Netherlands: a lavish Neo-Gothic residence of the Van Zuylen family with Rothschild interiors and 55 hectares of gardens.
About the museum
The origins of Kasteel de Haar go back to the Middle Ages; the castle is documented in writing from the late 14th century. Wartime destruction in the 15th and 17th centuries and a severe storm in 1674 took such a toll that by the 19th century only a ruin remained.
In 1890 Baron Etienne van Zuylen van Nijevelt inherited the estate. With the fortune of his wife Hélène de Rothschild, from 1892 he had the castle rebuilt on the old foundations in the Neo-Gothic style to plans by Pierre Cuypers and his son Joseph; the work took around twenty years. The extensive park, with an English landscape garden and formal style gardens, was designed by Hendrik Copijn. The project even saw the village of Haarzuilens moved about one kilometer and rebuilt.
The family used the castle mainly in September, when guests from the aristocracy and high society arrived for parties and dinners; under Baron Thierry, stars from fashion, film and music later came too. The furnishings include furniture, tapestries, paintings and a large collection of East Asian porcelain that the baron and baroness acquired on their travels.
Since 2000 the castle and gardens have belonged to the Stichting Kasteel de Haar, which also took over the collection in 2012. Today more than 20 rooms and around 55 hectares of park are open to visitors; the family still has the right to stay there each year.
Highlights
- The largest castle in the Netherlands, rebuilt in Neo-Gothic style by Pierre Cuypers
- More than 20 lavishly furnished rooms with room guides
- The Van Zuylen family's collection of East Asian porcelain
- 55 hectares of gardens by Hendrik Copijn with a Roman Garden, maze and deer park
- Interactive children's tour “Noet Noet” to the otherwise closed upper floor
- Founded
- 1892
- Operated by
- Stichting Kasteel de Haar
Admission & discounts
| Adults | €21.50 |
|---|---|
| Children & teens | €13.50free up to age 3 · Children under 4 free, ages 4–12 €13.50 (castle including gardens); from age 13 the adult price applies. |
| Seniors | –No discount for seniors (65+). |
| Groups (21+ people) | –Regular prices for up to 20 people; 20% off for groups of 21 or more (gardens in high season; castle only with a private tour or catering package). Private tour 60 min., €85 per guide (10–20 people, max. 3 guides), plus admission. |
| Gardens only (April–October) | €12.50Children aged 4–12 €5 |
| Gardens only (November–March) | €8Children aged 4–12 €5 |
| Gardens with the guided tour “Tuinen vol verhalen” (July–October, Sat/Sun 12:00) | €17.501.5 hrs, without the castle |
| Parking | €7.50online, in the entrance building or contactless at the barrier |
Free with the Museumkaart (reserve a time slot online); also free with the VriendenLoterij VIP-KAART, Rembrandtkaart and ICOM card; 25% off with the U-pas. The castle ticket includes the gardens. No cash payment for admission; ticket machine in the entrance building. The Museumkaart can be bought on site. Surcharges possible for special activities and events.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: not available
- Accessible restroom
- Accessible parking
- Service dogs welcome
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The castle itself is not accessible to wheelchair users or people with limited mobility because of its many stairs; rollators must stay in the entrance hall. The gardens are partly passable (main paths paved, otherwise gravel, steps in the Roman Garden); mobility scooters allowed at walking pace. Accessible restrooms at the Stalplein, in Restaurant Laverie, in Tuynhuis Gabrielle and in the castle. There are some accessible parking spaces. It is about a 20-minute walk from the parking lot to the castle; drop-off at the drawbridge is possible. Occasional tours for blind and visually impaired people.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 3 |
|---|
- Family tours & workshops
- Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
- Stroller-friendly: not available
- Playground / play area
Children's tour “Noet Noet en het geheime kasteelfeest” (ages 6+, approx. 40–55 min., in Dutch, included in the castle ticket, book a slot). Changing scavenger hunts for the castle and gardens, a maze, deer park and play equipment in the park. Strollers only in the gardens; in the castle, baby carriers only worn on the front.
Getting there & parking
By public transit
Kasteel de Haar · 1-min walk
From Utrecht Centraal take the Sprinter train to Vleuten station, then bus 111 to Kasteel de Haar; from the Amsterdam direction take the train to Breukelen, then also bus 111. Bus 111 runs hourly during the day until about 19:00, every half hour during the Christmas holidays and from Easter to the end of the summer holidays.
By car
Paid parking · 5-min walk to the entrance
Own parking lot opposite the entrance, €7.50 (online in advance, in the entrance building until 16:30 or contactless at the exit). About 5 min. from the parking lot to the entrance building, around 20 min. in total to the castle. Coaches can park; no charging stations. Parking is strictly prohibited in the surrounding area.
- Accessible parking
Bus stop about 1 minute from reception. OV-fiets rental bikes at Vleuten, Woerden and Breukelen stations; free, unattended bicycle parking opposite the gate.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
- Restaurant
- Museum shop
- Lockers
Restaurant Laverie at the Stalplein (accessible without a ticket) and Tuynhuis Gabrielle in the gardens (drinks and pastries to go, with a ticket). Kasteelwinkel shop in the castle. Bags, jackets and umbrellas must go in lockers. Picnic lawn for groups of up to 10 people.
Events & venue rental
- Spaces for rent
- Private parties
- Corporate events
- Weddings / ceremonies
Up to 130 guests.
Weddings, celebrations and corporate events for 20–130 people around the castle, in the chapel and at the Stalplein; contact trouwen@ or events@kasteeldehaar.nl.
Inquiries & detailsPlan your visit
| Guided tours | yes · approx. 60 min |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes (NL, EN) |
| Photography | Photos and videos with a phone or camera for private use are allowed, without flash inside the castle; drones, tripods and gimbals are prohibited, as are photo shoots and wedding photography. |
| Good to know | Castle visits by time slot (tickets can be scanned up to 30 min. after the slot begins). Room guides in almost every room (Dutch, some English/German); reading cards in six languages. Several times a year, special tours of otherwise closed rooms. Eating is not allowed in the castle; bags go in the lockers. About a 10-minute walk from the entrance building to the castle. |
