Garden tour 'Gardens full of stories

July 3 through October 31

 

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Want to take a beautiful walk and learn more about the intriguing history of De Haar Castle and its former noble residents, the Van Zuylen van Nijevelt family? You can do just that during the guided tour: “Gardens Full of Stories”*. An enthusiastic guide will take you on a tour and share all the stories behind the highlights of the landscape park.

*formerly: “Park Full of Stories”

Discover the treasures of the park

Not only the castle gives a unique glimpse into the life of its noble inhabitants, also the surrounding landscape park and the style gardens tell a part of the rich history. Reason for Castle de Haar to share these stories.

When the castle was rebuilt, the park and gardens were to be at least as imposing as the castle. To this end, Baron Etienne van Zuylen van Nijevelt engaged the well-known garden architect Hendrik Copijn in 1895. Copijn designed a romantic English landscape park with French style gardens, a deer park, maze, winding paths and leafy bridges.

Dive into history

The tour takes you through this lush greenery and its intriguing history. You’ll discover how Hélène de Rothschild’s fortune made the dream of rebuilding possible, why and how the village of Haarzuilens was relocated, and how a mature forest came into being in such a short time.

Stroll past special spots such as the Roman Garden, the Kruisvijver, and the Maze. But you’ll also pass by more distant and hidden spots like the De Haar vegetable garden, the “Kattepad,” and the “Gnome Village.” The route also passes various monuments that refer to the tragic story of Hélin van Zuylen van Nijevelt, the son of Baron Etienne and his wife. These are all pieces of the puzzle that bring the story of De Haar Castle to life.

Visitor information
The garden tour is conducted in Dutch, lasts 1.5 hours, and is open to anyone interested in a unique piece of history in the heart of Utrecht. Bookable every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday afternoon from July 4 through August 31 at 12:00 PM and 2:30 PM (max. 15 people). From September 1 through October 31, every Saturday and Sunday at 12:00 PM and 2:30 PM. Be sure to wear walking shoes, as the tour includes unpaved paths. The route is less suitable for people with limited mobility. The tour is canceled in case of bad weather.

A ticket for the guided tour grants you access to the entire castle grounds, which you can explore on your own before or after the tour. This ticket does not include admission to the castle itself. Costs for entrance to the gardens Includes the guided tour: €17.50 for adults. Different rates apply for children, holders of garden season passes, Museum Cards, and VriendenLoterij VIP cards. On the ticket page, select “Castle Gardens Tickets with Guided Tour” and choose an available date between July 3 and October 31.

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