Kasteel De Haar

The view of Kasteel De Haar at the parking area

The Netherlands Tourism ranked it as the second among the eight impressive castles in The Netherlands. This is the Kasteel De Haar in Utrecht. I have read novels with castles in the setting, like the castle in Scotland, but I was not expecting that I would likewise see a grand castle in my whole life.

My husband and son 

It was last March when my husband took me and our son to Kasteel De Haar. It was cold and very windy Saturday, but I don't mind the weather. I am so eager to see a castle, make photos, and to write about this experience.
Kasteel De Haar is considered as the largest and most luxurious castle in the Netherlands. Allow me tell what I saw and what I have felt when we visit this castle.
We arrived in Kasteel De Haar almost 11 o'clock. From the parking area, I already see the top of the castle. It looks remote, grand, medieval. We walked in the narrow path covered by towering trees. I feel like a poor girl who will turn to a princess in a fairy tale.

I always love family picture

When we reached the gate, I made my first photo of the castle. The castle is half concealed by tall grasses, trees, and surrounded by water. At the gate there are some staffs and they are giving us some instructions once we get in. Our next stop is at the cashier and the souvenir shop as well. Then we proceed and it was like a magic unveiled when we see that very grand castle bare,  without cover.

So real to me

My husband also owns a good Canon camera with many lenses, but now that he sees it too that I can make beautiful photos, he let making photos to me. I started to make photos of the castle, with us and without us. The place that surrounds the castle is very quiet.

paths lined with towering trees

The paths lined with towering trees, there are beautiful lakes and bridges. Next to the castle is a chapel. Finally, we are entering the castle. The interior is awesome. I cannot imagine that long long time ago, there were families living there. It is very impressive.

Lakes and gardens around the castle

The interior is graced with rich ornamented wood carvings. The stairway I feel like the stairway where Cinderella slipped her shoe.

one of the beautiful bridges

Everything inside is real, but it feels like just a make believe. When we got out of the castle, we have our lunch at the nearby café.

The luxurious dining hall

We choose a table overlooking the castle. I feel like it was a scene in a movie. You are having a lunch and before your eyes is a big, big castle.

Having lunch

After we eat our lunch we walked again around the castle. Around the castle lay a park and the gardens. The gardens are like the gardens that I have read in Barbara Cartland's books.

Very grand

I feel very calm, and cold from the blowing wind. Many visitors arrived in the afternoon and we are bound home. From what I gathered through  reading about Kasteel De Haar, this present castle is not the original, but it is restored in the very location. The first story of a building where this present castle stands today, dates all the way back to 1391. No wonder, my first sight of the castle is, it is very medieval.

The ground of the castle is 135 acres and worthy of your visit. The castle is open to the public from 9 am to 5 pm. The entry fee is affordable. The next time you visit the Netherlands, you can also see yourself the Kasteel De Haar and experience to live in a medieval times even for a while.