De Haar Castle

22 fun facts about De Haar Castle

1. Location: De Haar Castle lies in the Dutch province of Utrecht, about twelve kilometers west of the city of Utrecht, near the village of Haarzuilens. The majestic estate is surrounded by a wide moat, centuries-old oak avenues, and a beautifully landscaped park filled with canals and ponds.
2. Significance: De Haar Castle is the largest and most splendid castle in the Netherlands, attracting up to 300,000 visitors each year. It is considered the most important landmark in the Utrecht region and ranks among the country’s most remarkable historical monuments.
3. Predecessor Castle: The origins of De Haar Castle likely date back to the 13th century, when the first fortified residence was built on this site. It was first mentioned in written records in 1391, when a member of the Van der Haar family made it his home. At that time, it was a small fortified manor belonging to a minor nobleman under the authority of the Bishop of Utrecht. In the 15th century, the estate passed to the Van Zuylen family through the marriage of Josina van der Haar and Dirk van Zuylen, who transformed De Haar into a prominent aristocratic residence.
4. Destruction of 1482: In 1482, De Haar was devastated during a power struggle between the Bishop and the city of Utrecht. The Van Zuylen family’s castle stood at the heart of the conflict and was completely burned down. Only fragments of walls and foundations survived, later reused during its reconstruction. After this destruction, rebuilding began in the early 16th century.
5. The Van Zuylen Family: The Van Zuylen family is among the oldest and most distinguished noble lineages in the Netherlands, with roots in the province of Utrecht that stretch back many centuries. Several members served as diplomats and senators, but over time, the once-grand estate fell into decay. By the 18th and 19th centuries, all that remained of the proud castle was a romantic ruin overgrown with ivy.
6. Connection to the Rothschilds: In 1887, Dutch Baron Étienne van Zuylen married the wealthy Hélène de Rothschild, a member of the renowned Parisian banking family. At the time, this union between Catholic nobility and Jewish high society was considered highly unconventional. The couple first met at a masquerade ball in Paris, where Étienne, dressed as Hercules, caught Hélène’s attention with his impressive appearance.
7. Baron Étienne: Baron Étienne van Zuylen was not only the owner of De Haar Castle but also a passionate automobile pioneer. As president of the Automobile Club de France, he organized the Paris–Amsterdam–Paris race in 1898, which passed through Antwerp and became one of Europe’s first major car competitions. He was later appointed honorary president of the Dutch Automobile Club. Baron Étienne lived from 1860 to 1934.
8. Construction History: Between 1892 and 1912, Baron van Zuylen had the current castle completely rebuilt on the ruins of the former medieval fortress. The project was led by the renowned architect Pierre Cuypers, who also designed Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum and Central Station. The result was an impressive neo-Gothic masterpiece that blended towers, battlements, and rose windows with the latest modern comforts of its time. Cuypers’ son Joseph also contributed to the project and later became known for designing significant buildings such as the Cathedral of Saint Bavo in Haarlem.
9. World War II: During World War II, De Haar Castle remained largely untouched. The Van Zuylen family lived in exile in the United States, as their close connection to the Jewish Rothschild family put them in danger during the German occupation. The castle’s steward, Hendrik de Greef, disguised the estate as a working farm, cultivated vegetables, and thus protected it from confiscation and plundering.
10. Village of Haarzuilens: The original village of Haarzuilens once stood directly beside the castle but had to make way in 1898 for the newly designed castle park. Only the old church was preserved and harmoniously integrated into the landscape. About one kilometer away, a completely new village was built in a picturesque, neo-traditional style, based on designs by Pierre and Joseph Cuypers. With its village square, inn, smithy, and school, Haarzuilens became an idyllic model village. Today, it is considered one of the most beautiful historic villages in the Utrecht region and is listed as a protected heritage site.
11. Meeting Place for High Society: The tradition of September stays began in the 1920s, when the Van Zuylen family spent several weeks each year at De Haar Castle, hosting elegant dinners and receptions. In the 1960s, Baron Thierry revived this tradition, turning the castle into a gathering place for the international high society. Among the celebrated guests of that era were Brigitte Bardot, Roger Moore, and Yves Saint Laurent. To this day, special tours and events commemorate the glamorous September weeks at De Haar.
12. Open to the Public: The first public tours of De Haar Castle were held in the 1960s, when Baron Thierry van Zuylen opened the castle to visitors on select days. In 2000, ownership officially passed to a foundation, ensuring that the castle would remain open to the public. A large-scale restoration program began in 2001 and continued in several phases until 2020. The Van Zuylen family retained the right to stay at the castle during the month of September and usually resides in the Châtelet, one of the castle’s outbuildings.
13. State-of-the-Art Technology: Around 1900, De Haar Castle was regarded as one of the most technologically advanced residences in Europe. It boasted its own power plant, running hot and cold water, central heating, around 30 luxurious bathrooms with flush toilets, and even an electric elevator. Baron van Zuylen had a private power station built to supply the entire estate with electricity at a time when many Dutch villages were still without it.
14. Interior Design: The interior of the castle was planned down to the finest detail and created exclusively for the building. Architect Pierre Cuypers not only designed the structure but also every aspect of the interior — from furniture and wall paneling to carpets, chandeliers, and tableware. Each room was furnished with custom-made pieces crafted from fine woods and decorated with family crests, floral motifs, and Gothic ornamentation. Even the staff uniforms, door handles, and radiator covers were designed to fit the castle’s cohesive and harmonious aesthetic.
15. Statue of the Architect: On the first floor of the castle stands a life-sized statue of architect Pierre Cuypers. It was most likely created during the final construction phase around 1910 to 1912 or shortly afterward. The identity of the person who commissioned the statue remains unknown.
16. Great Hall: The Great Hall is one of the most magnificent rooms in De Haar Castle and was designed by Pierre Cuypers in the style of a medieval banqueting hall. It once served as the ceremonial heart of the castle, where the Van Zuylen family received distinguished guests and hosted grand banquets. Particularly striking are the intricate brass chandeliers depicting knights on horseback carrying lances and banners.
17. Ballroom: The Ballroom is one of the most magnificent rooms in De Haar Castle and once hosted dazzling receptions, celebrations, and evening gatherings. Its lavish décor features exquisite details and valuable Flemish tapestries from Brussels that depict scenes of love and daily life. These tapestries, over 500 years old, are among the castle’s most treasured artworks.
18. Castle Chapel: The Castle Chapel is the oldest surviving building on the estate and originally served as the village church of Haarzuilens. Built in the 15th century, it was later transformed into the castle’s private chapel. Beginning in 1894, Pierre Cuypers restored the church in neo-Gothic style, with the choir and nave largely rebuilt. Beneath the sacristy lies a family crypt, added in the 1950s, where several members of the Van Zuylen family are buried.
19. Castle Gardens: The gardens of De Haar Castle were created in the 1890s alongside the reconstruction of the castle itself. Landscape architect Hendrik Copijn designed an impressive 55-hectare park that blended the symmetry of French formal gardens with the natural elegance of English landscape design. To achieve a mature appearance right from the start, around 7,000 trees — each about 40 years old — were transplanted and carefully integrated into the grounds. Today, the rose garden, water features, tree-lined avenues, and winding paths rank among the most beautiful park landscapes in the Netherlands.
20. Art Collections: The castle’s art collection is now cared for by a foundation that preserves and regularly restores it with great attention to detail. It originates from Baron Étienne van Zuylen and Hélène de Rothschild, who assembled an exceptional array of artworks, furniture, and decorative objects. Alongside European paintings and intricately woven tapestries, the collection includes rare examples of Asian art. One of the most remarkable pieces is an 18th-century Japanese palanquin, richly decorated with black lacquer, gold ornaments, and the crest of the Tokugawa family.
21. Luminous Nights: “Luminous Nights” is a spectacular light walk through the park of De Haar Castle. Colorful projections, music, and artistic light installations transform the castle into a magical winter landscape. The 2.5-kilometer route is one of the largest open-air light events in the Netherlands and takes place every year in December and January.
22. Former Events: For more than twenty years, De Haar Castle was the setting of the Elfia Festival, one of Europe’s largest fantasy and costume events. Each spring, thousands of visitors turned the castle gardens into a vibrant world filled with music, performances, and imaginative costumes. After its final edition in 2025, the festival moved to Vorden Castle in the province of Gelderland.