October is National History Month, with the theme "Real Fake. A theme that fits the world of fake news, conspiracy theories and manipulation, in which you almost don't know what is real anymore. As a participant in History Month, Kasteel de Haar relates this theme to its own collection to make visitors more aware of its background and diversity.

During the surprising route "Real Fake," you will be stimulated to look at the castle with a different perspective. Judge for yourself whether what you see is original or fake. A surprising quest along different rooms and objects in the castle. Can you distinguish real from fake?

NEPKASTEEL

It is sometimes claimed that Castle de Haar is "fake. Because it would not have been built in the Middle Ages and it still looks so new. However, those who delve into its history discover that the first foundations were laid as early as 1100 and that since then it has been expanded, destroyed and rebuilt several times. Until it decayed into the ruin that Etienne baron van Zuylen van Nijevelt inherited in the late 1800s and had it rebuilt.

Because of the combination of eras and styles in the construction and interior, it is sometimes difficult to put into historical perspective. Was the main hall formerly an open courtyard? Are the tapestries original or are they replicas? Is the silverware medieval?

JUDGE FOR YOURSELF IN OCTOBER: REAL OR FAKE?  

During "Real Fake," you are challenged to be critical about the provenance and authenticity of various rooms and objects in the castle. After casting your vote, you will be given the correct answer and an explanation.

Visitor Information
"Real Fake" is included free with a castle ticket throughout October.