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De Haar Castle - grounds 1📷 APK, CC BY-SA 4.0

De Haar Castle

Haarzuilens, Netherlands

History

A fairy-tale moated castle with towers and turrets, rebuilt in the late 19th century and set in a large park. Walk the gardens and allow time for the guided interior if it fits your schedule.

De Haar Castle near Utrecht is regarded as the largest castle in the Netherlands. The De Haar family received the property as a fief in 1391; after the line died out it passed to the Van Zuylen family in 1440. A fire in 1482 destroyed large parts, the castle was rebuilt in the 16th century and fell into ruin after 1641. In 1890 Étienne van Zuylen inherited the ruin and married Hélène de Rothschild. With her family's money they had the castle rebuilt by Pierre Cuypers from 1892 to 1912, with electric light and steam heating.

To create the park, the village of Haarzuilens was demolished, except for its church, and rebuilt about a kilometre away. The park covers 45 hectares and the estate 400 hectares. Only a few rooms of the castle are open to visitors. The park is good for a stroll; allow two to three hours in total.

Nearest town
Haarzuilens, Netherlands
Category
History & culture
GPS
52.1214, 4.9825

Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.

Good to know

Best time to go

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

The most pleasant months are usually June–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in May. Cold, short days in January–February. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)

Getting there

  • Netherlands: No motorway tolls for cars. 100 km/h on motorways between 6:00 and 19:00.

Sources

Nearby

Dom Tower – Domplein tijdens Uitfeest© Victor van Werkhooven · CC BY-SA 3.0
Views

Dom Tower

Utrecht, Netherlands
Muiden, Muiderslot. 09-05-2022. (actm.) 07© Agnes Monkelbaan · CC BY-SA 4.0
History

Muiderslot

Muiden, Netherlands
Rijksmuseum – 20191026 Wiki tijdens Nacht van de geschiedenis 2© Ciell · CC BY-SA 4.0
History

Rijksmuseum

Amsterdam, Netherlands
Keukenhof – a windmill in the middle of a field of flowersPhoto by Brett Beutell on Unsplash
Editor's pick
Nature

Keukenhof

Lisse, Netherlands

Campsites nearby

  • PolderhaanMotorhome stopover
    4 km from De Haar Castle · 25 pitches
    MotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposalDogs allowedWi-Fi
    WebsiteOSMAdd to trip
  • Camping DoornenbalCampsite
    8 km from De Haar Castle
    TentsElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposalWi-Fi
    WebsiteOSMAdd to trip
  • Campererf Achter de SlootMotorhome stopover
    10 km from De Haar Castle
    MotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsDogs allowed
    WebsiteOSMAdd to trip
  • HollandMenCampCampsite
    13 km from De Haar Castle
    TentsCaravansDrinking waterShowersToiletsDogs allowed
    WebsiteOSMAdd to trip
  • Recreatie Landschap RosenboomCampsite
    13 km from De Haar Castle
    TentsCaravansMotorhomesElectricityShowersToiletsWi-Fi
    WebsiteOSMAdd to trip
  • Natuurcamping FazantenhofCampsite
    16 km from De Haar Castle
    TentsCaravansElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposalWi-Fi
    WebsiteOSMAdd to trip

All campsites in Netherlands · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026

FAQs

Where is De Haar Castle?

De Haar Castle is in Haarzuilens, Netherlands, at GPS 52.1214, 4.9825. It is about 10 km from Utrecht.

Can you camp near De Haar Castle?

Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Boerderij Hazenveld, about 1 km away; within 25 km there are 104 campsites and motorhome stopovers.

What is there to see near De Haar Castle?

Places worth a stop nearby: Dom Tower (10 km), Muiderslot (24 km), Rijksmuseum (27 km) and Keukenhof (34 km).

When is the best time to visit De Haar Castle?

The most pleasant months are usually June–September. Still fine, with some compromises, in May. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)