With around 300 fortifications and castles in the Netherlands to discover, it can be difficult to know where to start. Whether you’re interested in history, or simply want to feel like you’ve stepped into a fairy tale, the Netherlands will have the perfect castle for you.
1. Muiderslot Castle
Located in Muiden, just 15km south east of Amsterdam, Muiderslot Castle sits at the mouth of the Vecht River, and is one of the oldest and best preserved castles in the Netherlands. Built in 1285 with defence in mind, Muiderslot Castle faced the threat of being demolished in the 19th century, but was instead turned into a national museum in 1878. From then on, Muiderslot Castle has welcomed guests who can find out all about the building’s fascinating history, with collections from the Middle Ages, 17th century, and more modern times to discover. Explore the castle with the help of a free audio guide, or book onto a guided tour for a more personal visit. For children, there’s a ‘Discover and Explore’ quest which they can complete, and they’ll be awarded with a medal at the end.
Outside of the castle, you can wander through its impressive gardens and plum orchard. Maintained for both decorative and practical purposes, the gardens are home to vegetables, herbs, flowers, and a number of intriguing sculptures too. You’re also sure to enjoy seeing the surrounding moat, a great feature of any castle! Between April and October, you can learn all about medieval falconry from the castle’s falconer, and his stunning birds of prey up close. Muiderslot also hosts a range of fun entertainment options throughout the year, including plays, concerts, and battles between knights!
2. Kasteel De Haar
The beautiful Kasteel De Haar can be found close to the vibrant university city of Utrecht, right in the heart of the Netherlands. As the largest castle in the country, De Haar is also one of the most spectacular due to its fairy tale ramparts, towers, bridges, and moat, plus its parkland setting is a real draw for tourists too. Rebuilt by Pierre Cuypers (the architect behind the Rijksmuseum and Amsterdam’s Central Station) in the 19th century, the castle has played host to a number of famous guests throughout the years, including Roger Moore, Yves Saint Laurent, and Coco Chanel, and it boasts a varied events and exhibitions programme too.
This castle has been named as one of the top 20 most visited museums in the Netherlands, so you can be confident that you’ll find plenty to do during your visit. Discover kitchens and service areas gathered around a central hall in the basement, see luxurious living areas, including the dining room, main hall, library and ballroom, on the ground floor, and explore beautifully decorated bedrooms and bathrooms on the first floor. The castle’s bedrooms and bathrooms have been created in line with different styles and colour palettes, which makes each one unique. You can also choose to take a tour of the staff floor where you’ll see the work rooms and sleeping quarters of servants, cooks, and chambermaids from the past.
3. Huis Bergh Castle
Another of the biggest castles in the Netherlands, Huis Bergh Castle can be found in the city of ‘s-Heerenberg on the German border. Built in the 13th century, this castle boasts fascinating art, interesting history, and picturesque gardens, making it the perfect destination for those seeking some culture during their Dutch break. Set within a moat and half-enclosed by an embankment, Huis Bergh is rumoured to have originally started out as a simple wooden tower before being developed into an impressive building over the years. The castle was tragically destroyed by fire in both 1735 and 1939, but has been restored to its former glory.
During your visit, you can admire Huis Bergh Castle’s permanent collection of portraits, manuscripts, paintings, sculptures, and coins, curated by Jan Herman van Heek between 1912 and 1957. There’s a selection of audio guides available which will tell you all that you need to know about the art collection, history of the castle, and stories about its gardens, so you’re visit will be just as educational as it is enchanting. You can also choose to spend a night in one of the castle’s authentic towers, as two have been converted to contain luxurious suites. Set over two floors, the suites have a circular shape and spiral staircases, plus a kitchenette, dining area, and a sun patio with views of the castle and 18th century woodland.
4. Slot Loevestein Castle
Known as being one of the most famous castles in the Netherlands, Slot Loevestein is around 650 years old and can be reached in around an hour by car from Rotterdam. Set on a floodplain formed by the rivers Meuse and Waal, this castle boasts peaceful surroundings full of flora and fauna, making it perfect for hikers and cyclists. When you visit the castle itself, you’ll be given a key which allows you to explore each of the rooms in your own time. With around 6000 items to admire, stories to discover, and exhibits to see, you’ll have plenty to keep you occupied during your visit. Little ones will love dressing up as knights and damsels, and you’re sure to enjoy the Unearthed exhibition which displays belongings left by past residents.
The reason that Slot Loevestein Castle is so well-known is thanks to its years as a State Prison. During this time, legal scholar Hugo de Groot escaped just three years into his life sentence, which really put this castle on the map. These days, Slot Loevestein is somewhere that people want to be, and it even hosts business meetings, weddings, parties, and a range of other activities. In addition to this, the old Commander’s Quarters have been renovated into three rooms where you can stay the night. You could also choose to stay in the Soldier’s Cottage or the Commander’s House, and each stay comes with a delicious organic breakfast.
5. Kasteel Valkenburg
Although it has been in ruins since a gunpowder explosion in 1672, Kasteel Valkenburg is worth a visit due to the fact that it is the only hilltop castle in the Netherlands. Among the ruins, you can still recognise the knight’s halls, defence tower, keep, chapel, and artillery rooms, all of which would have been in use when the castle was built back in 1050. Offering panoramic views across the town of Valkenburg, this castle is mostly known for its network of tunnels which knights used to escape through, and WWI and WWII soldiers took shelter in. Take a 50 minute tour of the tunnels during your visit, and discover murals, inscriptions, and sculptures in the fascinating Velvet Cave.
Valkenburg Castle hosts a number of fun events throughout the year, including bird of prey shows and interesting exhibitions. If you’re hoping for something a bit daring, you can choose to climb the 8m climbing wall, or abseil down a 25m well! For children, there’s a ruin treasure hunt which is given to kids between the ages of 4 and 12. By solving clues, they can discover an event that happened in the castle’s past, and each month the name of a victorious child is posted on the castle’s website. Once you’ve finished exploring, head into the town where you can enjoy something to eat and drink in one of the many restaurants and cafes.
Now that you know where to find five of the best castles in the Netherlands, book your Hull to Rotterdam ferry crossing and start planning which ones you’d like to visit today.
