The Best Castles in The Netherlands That You Can Visit

Castles are not the first thing that comes to mind when you think of The Netherlands. But there are many impressive castles to be found in this small country.

And as The Netherlands is such a small country, you’re never far from one of the historic castles that you can visit. Many of these castles are located in the center or southern region of the country, making them an ideal day trip from one of the major cities like Amsterdam, Utrecht, or The Hague. And with an extensive train and bus network in the country, they are easy to reach by public transport.

The castles are often located in beautiful surroundings with walking and cycling paths nearby, making them the perfect place for a countryside escape. These are the most beautiful castles in The Netherlands.   

De Haar Castle

Castle De Haar (Kasteel de Haar) is one of the most luxurious castles in The Netherlands and it’s also the largest castle in the country. De Haar Castle looks like a typical fairy tale castle with towers and ramparts, moats, gates, and drawbridges.  

In the late 19th century the castle was rebuilt by Etienne, Baron van Zuylen van Nyevelt can de Haar, and his wife Baroness Hélène de Rothschild (of the famous Rothschild family). The interiors are now furnished with many items of the Rothschild family.

De Haar Castle was the private residence of the Van Zuylen family. They lived a lavish lifestyle which also reflects in the guests of their house parties. Coco Chanel, Brigitte Bardot, Gregory Peck, Roger Moore, Yves Saint Laurent, and many others were once guests at De Haar Castle.

The estate covers 135 acres with parkland and beautiful gardens. This impressive castle is located in the Province of Utrecht, close to the city of Utrecht. Meaning it’s a perfect day trip from one of the best cities in the country.

See also: Rothschild Country Houses and Castles That You Can Visit

Doornenburg Castle

Doornenburg Castle (Kasteel Doornenburg) is a 13th century castle in the province of Gelderland. The castle is one of the biggest castles and best-preserved castles in the Netherlands. Over the years, the castle was expanded and in the 15th century a front castle was added with sleeping quarters, a chapel, and a farm. 

In the 19th century, the castle fell into ruin. It was completely restored in the early 20th century but at the end of the Second World War, a British bomb destroyed the castle. After the war, it was completely rebuilt. The popular Dutch television series Floris featuring Rutger Hauer and directed by Paul Verhoeven was filmed at the castle.

Doorwerth Castle

Doorwerth Castle is one of the oldest castles in The Netherlands, located near Arnhem along the river Rhine. The original castle was probably a wooden castle that was first mentioned in 1260. During the 14th, 15th, and 16^th centuries the castle was enlarged multiple times. In 1637, the bailey was rebuilt to protect the castle from flooding.

The castle was badly damaged in the Second World War. Immediately after the war, the castle was restored to its 18th century state.

Duivenvoorde Castle

The history of Duivenvoorde Castle (Kasteel Duivenvoorde) goes back to the 13th century and it’s one of the oldest castles in The Netherlands. What’s interesting about this castle, is that it has never been sold. Duivenvoorde Castle has also been inherited by noble Dutch families. Today, you can visit historic interiors dating from the 17th to the 19th century. The gardens at the castle are also worthy of a visit.

Heeswijk Castle

Heeswijk Castle (Kasteel Heeswijk) is a moated castle built on a meander of the River Aa which at that time was an important transport route. The river was also a barrier for armies making it an strategic position.

The castle is built on top of an old motte, traces of the old structure are still visible in the cellar. The main castle you see today dates from the 15th and 16th century. In 1835, André Baron van den Bogaerde (governor of North Brabant) renovated the castle and turned it into his main residence and work castle.

Today, the castle houses a museum showing the life and traditions of the 19th century.

Hoensbroek Castle

Hoensbroek Castle (Kasteel Hoensbroek) is one of the largest castles in The Netherlands. The castle, located in the southernmost province of the country is known as “the most lordly stronghold between Rhine river and Meuse”. The castle is located in a strategic position along several important trading routes to Maastricht, Aachen, and Cologne. It was therefore expanded several times becoming the largest stronghold between the Meuse and the Rhine rivers.

At the castle, you can learn more about its fascinating history and its inhabitants.

Muiderslot Castle

Muiden Castle is a medieval castle close to Amsterdam, at the mouth of the Vecht river. The castle is best known for its imprisonment of Count Floris V of Holland. Famous Dutch author, poet, and historian P.C. Hooft (whose name you might recognize from the luxury shopping street in Amsterdam) bought the castle in the 17th century. He spent his summers here and turned the castle into a cultural hotspot, inviting many scholars, poets, and painters.

In the late 19th century, the castle was renovated and it now houses a museum that shows what the castle looked like in the 17th century. Muiderslot Castle is also included in the UNESCO World Heritage List.

See also: The Best Castles Near Amsterdam

Het Loo Palace

Het Loo Palace (Paleis Het Loo) is a royal palace in Apeldoorn. The house was built in the 17th century for stadtholder-king William III and Mary II of England. The Dutch Baroque palace for the House of Orange-Nassau was a summer residence of the Dutch Royal family until the death of Queen Wilhelmina in 1962.

The palace is now owned by the state and it’s now a state museum showing interiors with its original furniture, objects, and paintings of the House of Orange-Nassau. Outside, is a large Dutch Baroque garden.

Rosendael Castle

Rosendael Castle (Kasteel Rosendael) is a late medieval castle located in one of the oldest parks in The Netherlands. The castle was built for Count Reinoud I and later it was owned by several noble families.

The round donjon is the only building that remains from the original castle. In 1616, a new house was added to the tower which has been renovated multiple times over the centuries. After more than 700 year of being a residence, the castle is now a museum showing how it looked like around the 1900-1940 period.

Since the 17th century, the castle has had beautiful gardens. These have been redesigned multiple times over the years. In 1837, it was redesigned as a landscape-style garden.

Ammersoyen Castle

Ammersoyen Castle (Kasteel Ammersoyen) is one of the best preserved medieval moated fortresses in The Netherlands. The castle was built in the 1300s by the Van Herlaer family. The castle was originally built along the river Maas only that was rerouted not long after the castle was built, so now it is surrounded by a moat.

In the 20th century, the castle was restored to its original medieval construction. With a visit to the castle, you will be transported back to the Middle Ages.

Duurstede Castle

Castle Duurstede (Kasteel Duurstede) is a medieval castle close to Utrecht. The castle was built in the 13th century by the Van Zuylen van Abcoude family. They owned it until they were forced to sell it to the bishops of Utrecht. Bishop David of Burgundy rebuilt the castle, the old Donjon was enclosed by other buildings and the bishop also built the Burgundian tower.

In 1672, much of the castle was destroyed by French troops, townspeople used stones from their own homes to rebuild the castle. Today, the castle is mainly an event and wedding venue.

Huis Bergh Castle

Huis Bergh Castle (Kasteel Huis Bergh) is one of the largest medieval castles in The Netherlands. The history of the castle goes back to the 13th century but the majority of the castle dates from later centuries.

Huis Bergh Castle houses a unique art collection of early Italian pantings, including a panel from the Maestà of Duccio and a collection of handwritings dating fom medieval times.

Huis Doorn

Huis Doorn is not a castle but a house of great historic importance in The Netherlands. This history of the house goes back to the 14th century but its current Neoclassical exterior was built in 1800.

Huis Doorn was the residence of Wilhelm II, the last German Emperor. He fled to The Netherlands, which had been neutral in World War I, in 1918 after the German defeat. And he didn’t come alone. Wilhelm took with him an extensive collection of furniture, paintings, and other objects. Wilhelm died in Huis Doorn and the interiors show how it looked during his time.

Next to the house stands the First World War Pavilion, with an exhibition about The Netherlands during the First World War.

Loevestein Castle

Loevestein Castle (Slot Loevestein) is a 14th century water castle. The castle was built in a strategic location where the Maas River and the Waal River come together. Until World War II, the castle was also part of the Hollandic Water Line, a series of water-based defenses designed by Maurice of Nassau.

In 1619, the castle became a prison for political prisoners. One of the prisoners was Hugo de Groot (Hugo Grotius), the father of modern international law. With the help of his wife, he managed to escape prison in a book chest and fled to Paris.

Radboud Castle

Radboud Castle (Kasteel Radboud) is a medieval castle built by Floris V, Count of Holland. The Dutch stronghold is located in the harbor of Medemblik in North Holland and in 1517 it saved the townsfolk from the raids of Grutte Pier (a band of marauding pirates).

The castle is now a medieval museum with changing exhibitions about the Middle Ages.  

Zuylen Castle

Zuylen Castle (Slot Zuylen) is one of the oldest castles along the river Vecht. The castle, close to the city Utrecht, dates back to 1250 when a Donjon was built. The remains of this first building can still be seen. In later centuries, the castle was owned by several noble Dutch families.

In the 18th century, the castle was renovated into a French country house style. The castle and its interiors are now a museum showing its rich history of feminism, literature, weaponry, and robbery. And you can also see a tapestry by the famous Dutch carpet weaver Maximiliaan van der Gught who made tapestries for several royal houses in Europe.

Valkenburg Castle

Valkenburg Castle (Kasteel Valkenburg) is a ruined medieval castle in the South of The Netherlands, close to the German border. The Netherlands is an extremely flat country which makes the location of this castle unique. Valkenburg Castle is the only castle in The Netherlands built on a hill. 

The history of the castle goes back to 1115 but the remains you can visit today date from the 14th century. The castle was severely damaged during the Dutch Spanish War (the Eighty Years’ War) and later in the Franco-Dutch war the caste was again damaged, but the army of King Stadtholder Willem III prevented that it would fall into French hands.  

Amerongen Castle

The history of Amerongen Castle dates back to 1286 when Count Floris 1286 gave Henric and Diederic Borre permission to build a house at this site. In 1673, the castle was burned down by French troops. The Dutch manor house you can see today was built on the remains of the old castle.

The house, garden, and furnishings are a unique display in The Netherlands. At the end of the 19th century the castle was renovated by the noble Aldenburg Bentinck family, the historic interiors are from this period.

Cannenburgh Castle

Cannenburgh Castle is a water castle built by field marshal Maarten van Rossum. The castle which dates from 1543 was built on top of the ruins of an earlier medieval castle. The castle was owned by several noble families until it was acquired by the state after the Second World War.

You can now visit the castle and experience the splendor of a nobleman’s house. With the audio tour (in Dutch and English), former residents will take you on a journey back in time to the 18th century. Guided tours in English can be arranged by appointment. Surrounding the castle is a wonderful park with forests, flower gardens, ponds, canals, and avenues.  

Menkemaborg

In the province of Groningen you aren’t talking about a Dutch castle but a borg. Which is a variant of a castle or fortified castle. Menkemaborg is one of the historic borgen. The origins of the borg/castle goes back to the 14th century but around 1700 the house was dramatically altered by the Alberda family.   

They decorated the interiors with Baroque ornaments and paintings of mythological scenes. The Menkemaborg is now a historic house museum completely furnished and decorated with 17th and 18th century pieces. Surrounding the house lie 18th century gardens. The Menkemaborg sows perfectly how the aristocracy lived in Groningen.

Ruurlo Castle

Ruurlo Castle (Kasteel Ruurlo) is a water castle in the province of Gelderland. The origins of the castle date back to 1326 and since the 15th century it was owned by the noble Van Heeckeren family.

Today, the castle is a national museum showing artworks of Carel Willink. It’s the second location of the Museum MORE.