Castle De Haar, also known as Kasteel De Haar, is the largest castle in the Netherlands, conveniently located near Utrecht, making it an ideal day trip destination from Amsterdam.
If you can only visit one castle in the Netherlands, make it this one! Originally designed as a luxurious residence rather than a fortress, Castle De Haar offers a breathtaking interior that is well worth the additional entrance fee.
This guide provides detailed information on how to reach Castle De Haar, including current opening hours and ticket prices, available day tour options, and essential tips for your visit.
Table of Contents
1) How To Get To Castle De Haar
2) Visiting Castle De Haar: What To Expect
3) Inside De Haar Castle (Interior)
4) Opening Hours
5) Entrance Fees
6) History Of Kasteel De Haar
7) Best Time To Visit
8) Best Amsterdam Tours
9) More Travel Guides
How To Get To Castle De Haar
Castle De Haar is situated in Haarzuilens, just on the outskirts of Utrecht in the Netherlands.
To reach the castle, you have various transportation options including cycling, renting a car (self-drive), taking a taxi, using public transportation, or opting for a day tour package that offers hotel pickup and drop-off from Amsterdam. The castle is a 30-minute car ride from both Amsterdam and Utrecht.
If you choose to use public transportation from Amsterdam Centraal to the castle, you should allocate more time. You will need to take a train to Utrecht Centraal and then transfer to a train heading to Den Haag Centraal (4 times per hour) to reach Vleuten train station.
Upon arrival in Vleuten, you can catch Bus 111 to Kasteel de Haar, with only a 2-minute walk (available only on summer weekends). Alternatively, you can take Bus 127 from Vleuten to Breukelen (stop at Brink in Haarzuilens), which is a 15-minute walk to the castle.
You can utilize this map for precise directions to the castle, which is approximately 20 kilometers from central Utrecht or 33 kilometers from Amsterdam.
Planning a Visit to Castle De Haar: What You Can Anticipate
Before anything else, it's important to note that De Haar Castle is encompassed by 135 acres of meticulously landscaped gardens adorned with vibrant flowers, serene ponds, graceful deer, and picturesque scenery, making it an ideal spot for a leisurely stroll or a delightful picnic.
The exterior of Castle De Haar is truly remarkable and visually captivating, boasting all the traditional elements characteristic of a medieval castle, such as towers, turrets, moats, gates, and drawbridges.
You'll find that there are ample opportunities to capture stunning images of the castle from virtually every angle!
Until now, I had never thought of Holland as a place with castles, but this one is absolutely stunning, resembling a castle from a fairy tale.
Being the biggest castle in the Netherlands, it can easily be considered the most beautiful as well. Additionally, the castle offers a gift shop, café, and visitor center for ticket purchases.
Moreover, the park surrounding the castle features a deer park where you can observe amicable deer wandering and grazing.
When you visit De Haar during the appropriate time of year, you can enjoy special seasonal events such as the Elfia Fantasy Fair and Christmas Market.
There is no need for advance booking or reservation at Kasteel De Haar, but you have the option to reserve a small group day tour from Amsterdam if you prefer to avoid the hassle of arranging your own transportation (more details on that will be provided later).
In any event, the castle is definitely worth a visit, particularly if you come from a country like the US where castles are not very common!
Inside De Haar Castle (Interior)
Don't miss the opportunity to explore the impressive interior of De Haar Castle by purchasing a combo ticket. The interior is filled with intricate details, luxurious bedrooms, artwork, furniture, and more, creating a museum-like experience.
Despite the castle having 200 rooms, visitors are only allowed to tour a small portion of them. However, the inside tour is comprehensive and definitely worth it.
If you're considering a visit, I highly recommend getting the combo ticket for a truly enriching experience.
Interior of Castle De Haar — the inside is just as nice as the outside!
Visitors have the option to enjoy an audio tour in either Dutch or English, and there are friendly multilingual guides stationed in most rooms of the castle to provide insights into the building's history and its former inhabitants.
Photography, including the use of cameras without flash, is permitted within the castle, allowing us to capture many memorable moments. The experience was captivating, and we could have easily spent more time exploring each room.
Visitors are not permitted to bring backpacks, tripods, drones, and similar items into De Haar Castle. However, convenient lockers are available for storing belongings during the interior tour.
Operating Hours
Park: 9 AM – 5 PM daily
Castle: 11 AM – 5 PM daily
Although access to the castle interior is not permitted until 11 AM, visitors are welcome to explore the grounds from 9 AM onwards, making the morning an ideal time to visit.
The castle is open every day. Information about holiday exceptions can be found here.
Admission Fees
These are the current prices for tickets to access the park grounds surrounding the castle, excluding entry to the building itself.
Adults: 7 Euros
Children (4-12): 5 Euros
Children (0-4): Free
Parking: 6 Euros
If you wish to enter the castle, there is a separate ticket available that includes access to the park as well. This ticket can be purchased on-site or booked in advance here.
Only credit or bank cards are accepted at the castle; cash is not a valid payment method.
History Of Kasteel De Haar
Despite its medieval appearance, the De Haar Castle was predominantly constructed in the 19th century, replacing earlier castle ruins dating back to 1391.
Originally belonging to the De Haar family until 1440, the property was later acquired by the Van Zuylen family through marriage. From 1892 to 1912, the Van Zuylens enlisted the services of Dutch architect Pierre Cuypers to undertake a comprehensive reconstruction and refurbishment of the castle, resulting in the impressive structure we see today.
During the 1960s, the castle became a favored venue for the Van Zuylen family to entertain international celebrities such as Brigitte Bardot, Gregory Peck, Joan Collins, Roger Moore, and Michael Caine.
In 2000, ownership of the castle and gardens was transferred from the Van Zuylen family to the Kasteel de Haar foundation, although the family retained the privilege of staying at the castle for one month annually, a tradition they uphold to this day. How fortunate!
Best Time To Visit
De Haar Castle is a delightful destination throughout the year, but summer stands out as the ideal time due to the splendid display of blooming flowers. The Rose Garden, boasting more than 1,200 roses of 79 different species, is particularly enchanting.
To make the most of your visit, it is advisable to arrive in the morning when the park opens at 9 AM. This way, you can explore the entire grounds with fewer crowds. We visited on a summer morning and savored the tranquility for an hour or two, feeling like we had the place all to ourselves!
I suggest allocating 2 to 3 hours to fully immerse yourself in the castle and park grounds, depending on your pace and the blooming status of the gardens during your visit. Most visitors typically complete the tour in around 2 hours.
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