The castle

De Haar Castle is the biggest and most fairytale-like castle in The Netherlands. With its towers, turrets, moats, gates ans suspension bridges, De Haar Castle resembles a true medieval castle.

The medieval residence De Haar was founded in the course of the fourteenth century, on sediment deposits along a blind arm of the river Rhine. The first references to the castle date back to 1391. De Haar, however, is really special because - more than 100 years ago now - it was entirely restored and partially rebuilt, resulting in a restoration unparalleled in Europe. This involves not only the architecture, but also the interior and the gardens. Even the church and the village Haarzuilens were involved in this project so that, without exaggeration, one could say it is a 'Gesamtkunstwerk' (integrated work of art): this is the creation of a unique, special, world in which all aspects of man's creative talents could flourish.

Resurrection

De Haar already had its current, large pentagonal ground plan in the fifteenth century. It probably got this shape after the castle was destroyed in 1482 as a result of the quarrels between the Bishop and the city of Utrecht.

After this, the castle was rebuilt, but in the course of the eighteenth and nineteenth century it fell into disrepair. The ruinous condition came to an end as from 1890, when the young owner baron Etienne van Zuylen van Nijevelt decided to have the ancestral castle restored in grand style. In 1892 the first activities at the castle started. In a few years time an impressive castle would arise by incorporating the existing, still high-rising, fifteenth century walls.

The information is copied from the website of De Haar Castle. More information can be found >>here<<.