Out and about! The best castles in the Netherlands
It's the season to go out again! In this blog post, we introduce you to the nicest and most beautiful castles in the Netherlands. A visit to a castle is always worthwhile because of its rich history, moreover, they are often located in beautiful surroundings so the visit can be combined with a walking or cycling trip. And, not to forget, castles are always popular with children!
Also check out our castle souvenirs at the bottom of this blog post; the best products for every castle lover!
Muiderslot castle
Rijksmuseum Castle Muiderslot is probably the most famous castle in the Netherlands. In any case, it is one of the most beautiful. Located in the historic port town of Muiden, the 700-year-old castle is one of the oldest and best-preserved castles in the Netherlands. The castle is packed with old utensils, armour and weapons, and the beautiful surrounding castle garden is home to endangered historical flowers and plants.
Fun tip: the Muiderslot can also be reached by boat from Amsterdam.
Loevestein Castle
Slot Loevestein in Poederoijen (near Gorinchem) has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2021 and was built by knight Dirc Loef van Horne in 1358. The castle is part of the New Dutch Waterline and is strategically located in the river landscape of Maas and Waal. The castle was once the state prison of the Netherlands, from which Hugo de Groot once escaped (in 1621), hidden in a book chest.
In the castle, the outer bailey and the soldier village, there is plenty to do for young & old, there are changing exhibitions, and the castle can be booked for overnight stays, receptions, weddings and (corporate) events.
Ruurlo castle
One of the nicest castles in the Netherlands is Ruurlo Castle, located in the Achterhoek region. This beautiful, and restored to perfection, 14th-century castle actually houses one of the largest realistic art collections in the country, including a large collection of paintings by Carel Willink. You will also find works by the likes of Charley Toorop, Jan Mankes, Henk Helmantel, Erwin Olaf and Marlene Dumas in the collection. Surrounding the castle is a beautiful landscape garden with a maze and an orangery for lunch, coffee and tea. The mix of art, history, architecture and beautiful nature make a visit to Ruurlo Castle more than worthwhile.
De Haar Castle
De Haar Castle presents itself as the largest castle in the Netherlands, and that is probably not far from the truth. Located in Haarzuilens near Utrecht, the castle is easily accessible to visitors from the Randstad. Restoration in the late 19th century by architect Pierre Cuypers gave the castle a fairytale appearance.
The castle focuses on the glory of the Van Zuylen family and almost all rooms can be visited, including the imposing central hall with gothic elements and a vault covered in gold leaf.
The castle is set in a large 55-hectare park that includes a rose garden, park forest, a maze a deer park. With the picturesque castle village of Haarzuilens around the corner, castle de Haar is highly recommended for a day out!
Heeswijk Castle
Close to Den Bosch, you will find Heeswijk Castle with a history dating back to the 11th century. In history, the castle has been besieged, destroyed and rebuilt several times. Heeswijk Castle was the base of operations for Prince Frederik Hendrik during the siege of 's Hertogenbosch. The story goes that the French 'Sun King' Louis XIV stayed there in 1672 to conclude the 'Agreement of Heeswijk' with the English. In 1794, it was briefly a French military headquarters under General Pichegru.
The castle's current architecture dates from 1835 and is the result of a thorough renovation and extension by André Baron van den Bogaerde, the King's governor at the time. The wealthy baron and his sons turned it back into an elaborate medieval castle, complete with south wing, gallery, Armoury and Iron Tower, and furnished with many art treasures and curiosities.
A visit to the castle, combined with a walk through the surrounding area gives an impression of the vastness of the estate and the special nature still to be found there. All in all, a colourful history well worth experiencing.
Castle souvenirs in the Museum Webshop
Museum Webshop offers a large range of castle-related items such as:
Calligraphy sets
For writing in style, just like they did in the Middle Ages. These luxury writing sets include a natural feather with several different crowns, and a bottle with black ink.
Quill pens
These feather pens have a modern touch: they have a ballpoint pen. Choose from 13 different standard coloured quill pens, or the more exclusive feathers like the Ostrich quill pens, the Peacock quill pens, Guinea fowl quill pens, or Pheasant quill pens.
Crown pens and crown pencils
Royal products: write or draw with a Royal touch. Different base colours for the pens and pencils, and different crowns are available.
Wax sealing sets
Seal your letters and documents with this beautiful set. Contains a wax stick and a wooden stamp holder with a metal stamp attached.
Dame à la Licorne collection
A wide range of Merchandise based on the medieval tapestry which can be admired in Musée de Cluny in Paris. This tapestry is part of a series of six tapestries, and are considered to be one of the masterpieces of medieval art. A fun fact: replicas of the tapestries are being used in one of the Harry Potter movies, as decoration of the Gryffindor common room.
Fleur de Lys collection
A symbol with many meanings, commonly associated with Royalty and Castles. Choose from items such as sleeping masks, cushion covers, tote bags, hand fans, and many more…
Are you a Castle shop or Museum shop manager? To view the prices for retailers, create an account on the right upper side of our website, or contact us: [email protected] - +31 88 33 66 990
All the above items can also be customized in small quantities with your own images and logos.
Visit our website for custom made items for more information: Lanzfeld Editions.
