Kasteel Doorwerth

About the museum

The castle's origins go back to the 13th century: a wooden residential tower was followed around 1280 by a stone hall building with walls more than a meter thick, which can still be made out in the east wing. Later owners expanded the complex again and again; the main castle reached its greatest extent shortly after the middle of the 16th century. In the 17th century dikes were built to protect against flooding from the Nederrijn, along with the gatehouse, the outer bailey in its present form, and the kitchen garden. Among the well-known owners was Charlotte Sophie van Aldenburg Bentinck.

War, looting, fire, and decay took their toll on the castle several times. In 1909 Frederic Adolph Hoefer rescued it with the association “De Doorwerth,” which he had founded; the dispute over the right way to restore it led to the first general restoration principles in the Netherlands. In the early 20th century the Order of St. John used the castle for a time.

In the fall of 1944, in the days after the Battle of Arnhem, Doorwerth was reduced to rubble. Reconstruction began in the 1950s, was taken over by the foundation Vrienden der Geldersche Kasteelen, and was not completed until 1983. Today the castle displays furnished living quarters with paintings by artists including Nicolaes Maes and Ferdinand Bol, as well as the collections of the Nederlands Jachtmuseum (Dutch Hunting Museum) and the Nationale Bosbouwcollectie (National Forestry Collection).

Highlights

• Historically furnished rooms with Great Hall, kitchen, armory, and prison with a ceiling studded with nails
• Portraits by Nicolaes Maes and Ferdinand Bol
• Collections of the Nederlands Jachtmuseum and the Nationale Bosbouwcollectie
• Kitchen garden in the style of Dutch Classicism with old vegetable and herb varieties
• Setting in the floodplains of the Nederrijn near the Landgoed Duno estate

Permanent exhibitions

• Het Nederlands Jachtmuseum – Prints, paintings, and equipment on the history of hunting, from falconry and duck decoys to present-day game management and nature conservation.
• Nationale Bosbouwcollectie – Tools and documents from the 19th and 20th centuries on the planting and management of Dutch forests.
• Kasteelvertrekken – Furnished living and service rooms show life and work at the castle since the 17th century, with paintings, armor, and original furnishings.

Operated by

Geldersch Landschap & Kasteelen

Admission & discounts

Free admission during regular opening hours with the Museumkaart, VriendenLoterij VIP-KAART, ICOM card, and for GLK donors; not valid for special tours and events. The kitchen garden and the paths around the castle are freely accessible.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: not available
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• 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

Wheelchairs, rollators, and mobility scooters cannot enter the castle (narrow spiral staircases with more than 300 steps); the shop and restrooms are only partially accessible. The kitchen garden and paths around the castle are accessible and free, with a brochure and videos via QR code; the “Ommetje om het kasteel” walk is also suitable for wheelchair users. Loaner walking-stick seats available in the castle. Two accessible parking spaces in P1; drop-off at the entrance possible after emailing in advance. For hearing-impaired visitors: text panels, a leaflet, and silent short films. Visually impaired visitors are advised to come with a companion (companion admitted free).

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Stroller-friendly: not available
• Baby changing facilities
• Playground / play area
• Kids’ birthday parties

Dressing up as castle residents, indoor and outdoor scavenger hunts, a chain mail shirt to try on in the armory, knight's challenge, and escape route; climbing frame and sandbox. Children's birthday parties on Wednesdays. Strollers stay in the cloakroom; baby carriers allowed; baby changing table in Kasteelcafé De Zalmen.

Getting there & parking

Via the A50, exit 19 Renkum. During the parking lot work, pedestrians and cyclists are routed via the Fonteinallee.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop
• Coat check

Kasteelcafé De Zalmen in the outer bailey (lunch, coffee, drinks; contact by email only). Castle shop with regional products and souvenirs. Vacation apartment above the gate. Dogs on a leash are allowed on the grounds but not inside the castle.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

Weddings with celebrations through to dinner in cooperation with Kasteelcafé De Zalmen; halls for receptions, presentations, meetings, symposia, and exclusive dinners; grounds for large events.

Plan your visit