Small Group Tour to Royal Palace & Castle de Haar from Amsterdam
5.0
2 Ratings
Amsterdam
Embark on a small group tour from Amsterdam to explore the Royal Palace and Castle de Haar. Discover centuries of history and the opulence of Europe's renowned Royals and nobility!
Duration: 9 hours
Cancellation: 1 day learn more
Highlights
  • Paleis Het Loo - Welcome to the summer palace of William and Mary! Built in the late 17th century the royal palace is situated in the middle of the Veluwe moorland, an extensive hunting ground. Beautifully decorated with extensive unique baroque palace gardens and fountains, this tour brings you back to the core of Europe’s royal history!

After Willem and Mary the Dutch royal family kept Het Loo as their summer palace. In 1795 the French army invaded the Netherlands and the palace was plundered. But by 1806 Het Loo was occupied once more, by Louis Napoleon, who had been appointed King of Holland by his brother Napoleon Bonaparte.

Both King Willem I and Willem III loved to spend time at Palace Het Loo, far from their busy lives in The Hague. Het Loo was very special to Queen Wilhelmina, and there was no place she would rather be! The last residents of the palace were Princess Margriet and her family who resided in the palace until 1977.

  • Paleispark Het Loo - After we visit the palace you have about an hour to discover the extensive unique baroque palace gardens and fountains around the palace. These are the only remaining Baroque gardens in the Netherlands.

This visit includes time for lunch at one of the Palace’s restaurants.

  • Kasteel de Haar - In the afternoon we take you into a magical fairy tale to the most impressive medieval castle in the Netherlands!

Castle de Haar is characterized by its rich and extravagant history and the many special stories hidden behind the castle walls. First built in the 13th century it came in the van Zuylen family in the 15th century. The castle found itself in ruins after centuries of wars, and several bad storms, until Baron Etienne van Zuylen, who married Baroness Hélène de Rothschild, took it upon himself to rebuild the castle at the end of the 19th century. He enlists architect Pierre Cuypers for this project, the same architect who designed the Rijksmuseum and central station in Amsterdam!

In the 1950’s the castle becomes a sought-after hotspot for the international jet set with guests such as Roger Moore, Brigitte Bardot, and Maria Callas visiting Etienne’s grandson: baron Thierry. The baron’s daughters and grandchildren still come to the castle for their holidays!

  • Amsterdam - Total transit time from Amsterdam to the Palace and castle and back to Amsterdam is 3 hours.
What's Included
  • Bottled water included
  • Air-conditioned vehicles
  • All fees and taxes included
What's Not Included
  • Lunch
Additional Information

Embark on a group journey tracing back centuries of history and soaking in the glory of Europe’s most renowned Royals and aristocrats! We commence the tour at your hotel, leading you to the Royal summer palace of William and Mary: Palace het Loo, established first in 1685. This Palace also holds the charm of being a beloved dwelling for the later generations of the Dutch Royal family: the House of Orange. We explore both the castle and its exquisite baroque gardens!

Post lunch, we proceed to the strategic Castle de Haar, revamped in 1890 over its medieval groundwork, where Baron and Baroness van Zuylen hosted their high-profile guests! We conclude the tour by dropping you back in Amsterdam during the late afternoon.

  • Due to the many stairs in the castle this tour is not suitable for people having difficulty walking. infants seats on request, need to contact before. Foldable wheelchairs can be brought upon request if the user can get in and out of the van unassisted.
  • Travel time is included on the total duration
Location
De Ruijterkade 151
De Ruijterkade
We meet at the terrace of the Aloha cafe under the big bowling pin. From Amsterdam central station walk 350 meter towards the Movenpick hotel, keeping the IJ harbor and the river cruise ships on your left. The Aloha cafe is at the end, under the over pass.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(2 Ratings)
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1 star
Keithsk8556il
May 10, 2024
Castle tour - Sarah was an amazing guide ! Seeing the castle and the grounds was really cool and exciting to learn ! big thanks to Sarah !
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ariyya
Apr 19, 2024
Enjoyable tour - I booked this tour as it seemed the best option to enjoy two locations in the same day and it didn't disappoint. We were a small group of tourists and Sarah our guide took good care of us during the tour; she was always ready with information and witty banter about the places we went to and drove through. We had ample time to see everything and she didn't rush us. There was enough time to have lunch and browse the gift shop. It was a pleasant excursion and I'd recommend booking with this company for their professionalism and congeniality.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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up to 15 guests
1 Adult
May 2024
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