My husband likes touring castles. I was considering doing a day trip from our home base of Den Hague to visit Kasteel de Haar. If I am understanding correctly, it looks like it would involve a train and bus ride, and then a 15 minute walk. I'm trying to decide if it is worth the time. Will those who have visited the castle provide feedback on your experience and whether you recommend it?
Posted by
IJzendijke, The Netherlands
2092 posts
Must be some twenty years ago I liked visiting De Haar. Know it’s not an original medieval castle but an 19th / early 20th neogothic style rebuilt and well decorated inside. It’s created based on idealized ideas about medieval times typical for the Romantic period. Nevertheless it was modern for it’s time and gives you an idea about the lifestyle of wealthy people living some 100 years ago. You can compare it with Neuschwanstein in Germany, not original but very popular and nobody seems to complain it’s not truly medieval. You can also visit nearby village Haarzuilens too. So if you don’t care it’s original medieval or not it’s certainly enjoyable to visit.
The architect was the same who designed the Rijksmuseum and Amsterdam Centraal railway station.
Posted by
OP
120 posts
Thank you, Wil. Based on your feedback, we have decided to leave it off the itinerary. Thanks again for your help.