Kasteel de Haar is the largest castle in the Netherlands, in Haarzuilens, west of Utrecht, reachable from Amsterdam by train and then bus. On the ruins of a medieval castle, Baron Etienne van Zuylen van Nyevelt and his wife Hélène de Rothschild had it rebuilt from 1892 by the architect Pierre Cuypers, who also designed the Rijksmuseum and Amsterdam Central Station: towers, moats, bridges and neo-Gothic interiors make a fairy-tale setting. The castle is surrounded by 55 hectares of gardens and parkland. Allow two to three hours for the castle and gardens.
Highlights
The castle and its interiors
The route takes you through the drawing rooms, dining room, bedrooms and the great neo-Gothic hall, with carved panelling, stained glass and art collections gathered by the baron. In the 20th century, under Baron Thierry, the castle welcomed guests including Coco Chanel, Brigitte Bardot and Maria Callas. Audio guide in Dutch and English.
The gardens
Designed in the late 19th century by Hendrik Copijn, the gardens include a rose garden, a Roman garden, a maze, a cross-shaped pond and a deer park, set within an English landscape park. To lay them out, the old village of Haarzuilens was demolished, except for its church, and rebuilt a little further away.
Arriving through the gatehouse
You enter through the gatehouse and the stable courtyard, then see the castle surrounded by its moats. A walk around the outside, over the bridges and along the paths, shows the façades and towers from every angle.
Tickets and opening hours
Castle and gardens: €21.50 for adults, €13.50 for ages 4 to 12, free under 4 and with the Museumkaart. Gardens only: €12.50 from April to October, €8 from November to March (€5 for ages 4 to 12). The castle is open daily from 11am to 5pm (last entry 4.15pm, from 10am during Dutch school holidays), the gardens from 9am to 5.30pm.
Infos pratiques
Tips
Book a time slot online, Museumkaart holders included: the castle often sells out and the slot time must be respected. On site, tickets are sold at a machine, contactless card only. Pushchairs and dogs are not allowed in the castle, and the interior is not wheelchair accessible. From 4 December 2026 to 3 January 2027, the Lumineuze Nachten offer an evening light walk through the park (separate ticket). Prices checked in October 2026.
How to get there
Kasteellaan 1, 3455 RR Haarzuilens. From Amsterdam Centraal, take the train to Breukelen (about 25 minutes), then bus 111 to the Kasteel de Haar stop, a minute from reception. The bus runs about once an hour, more often during some holidays: check the timetable on 9292 before you set off. Alternatively, take the Sprinter train from Utrecht Centraal to Vleuten, then the same bus 111. OV-fiets rental bikes are available at Vleuten and Breukelen stations, with free bike parking in front of the castle. By car, the castle car park costs €7.50 (15 minutes' walk to the entrance); parking nearby is prohibited.
Opening hours
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