Welcome at De Haar Castle
Kasteel de Haar is the largest and most luxurious castle in the Netherlands and is ideal as a location for your wedding or business event. It is one of the top European historic houses. A visit to De Haar Castle will take you back to the glory days of the castle and will show you the breathtaking splendour that surrounded the international rich and famous in the early 20th century. You will be amazed at the very un-Dutch luxury in which the Van Zuylen family and their guests lived amidst a wealth of history and art.
Few castles in The Netherlands can equal De Haar for its ideal image of a medieval fortress with towers and ramparts, moats, gates and drawbridges. Like a real fairy-tale castle it rises majestically from parkland with impressive trees, old gardens and ponds.
For over a century it has been tradition for the Van Zuylen van Nijevelt van de Haar family to reside in the castle for one month a year, in September. The tradition centres around entertaining prominent international guests at lavish house parties hosted by the baron and baroness. Famous guests included Coco Chanel, Maria Callas, Gregory Peck, Roger Moore, Yves Saint Laurent, Joan Collins and Brigitte Bardot.
The medieval House De Haar dates from the 13th century. It fell into disrepair in the 18th and 19th centuries. Architect Pierre Cuypers (famous for his designs of the Rijksmuseum and the Central Station in Amsterdam) restored and rebuilt De Haar for baron Etienne van Zuylen van Nijevelt van de Haar. The rebuilding took from 1892 till 1912 and was a project unique of its kind in all of Europe.
The park and gardens surrounding De Haar Castle – covering over 135 acres of land – are worth a visit in their own right. The Rose Garden, the Roman Garden, the ponds and canals, as well as the many bridges, romantic vistas and impressive avenues invite visitors to go on long walks or have a picnic. Each season in the park has its own charm.
