Discover Benelux, Issue 72, December 2019

Page 42

Explore luxurious castle life near Utrecht TEXT: MAYA WITTERS  |  PHOTOS: DE HAAR CASTLE

De Haar Castle is a not-so-hidden gem near Utrecht for tourists with a keen interest in history. This medieval castle, which underwent extensive luxurious renovations in the late 1800s, has something for everyone: rich tales of past glory, endless gardens, enthusiastic English-speaking guides, seasonal splendour, and even a maze. In short, everything you need for a delightful day trip. The history of De Haar Castle is fascinating. Built in the 1100s, it later fell into disrepair and stood ruined for decades, until Baron Etienne van Zuylen van Nijevelt van de Haar and his wife Hélène de 42  |  Issue 72  |  December 2019

Rothschild decided to begin renovation works in 1890. They contracted architect Pierre Cuypers, already famous at the time for his designs of the Rijksmuseum and Central Station in Amsterdam. Cuypers restored the castle above and beyond its former glory, giving it a lavish interior in gothic revival style to match the stark medieval facades, which sport ramparts, moats and drawbridges. The result is a fascinating building that tells the story of its rich past via its design alone.

The power of volunteers However, visitors need not merely guess about the castle’s historical transforma-

tions while discovering its many rooms and hallways: a guide awaits in almost every room, ready to tell the unique story of its former uses. As these guides are all volunteers, they help tourists with ample enthusiasm and are highly knowledgeable about the history of the Van Zuylen family. “Since 2000, the castle has been in the hands of De Haar Castle Foundation, a private non-profit organisation that works to keep it accessible to the public. The baron wanted to keep the castle in the best possible state, something he could not accomplish alone given its massive size,” explains Samantha Huismans,


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