De Haar Castle

Castle de Haar (formerly Het Huys te Haer, from Proto-Germanic *Haru, sandy ridge) is a castle near Haarzuilens. It is the largest castle in the Netherlands. Since 1892, it has been rebuilt in neo-Gothic style on the ruins of the old castle. Research is currently taking place regarding the history of the origins of Castle de Haar. It is still uncertain how the first buildings looked exactly. Presumably, the first building, a fortified residential tower on a circular moated plot, dates back to the 12th century. The oldest written mention, a deed, dates from 1391. At that time, Boekel van de Haar received the house in fief from Hendrik van Vianen. The castle then consisted of no more than a fortified residential tower. This tower was built on a ridge along a dead arm of the Rhine River. Over the years, the castle has been further expanded. Through the marriage of Yosina van de Haar to Dirk van Zuylen van Harmelen, the castle came into the possession of the Van Zuylen family in 1449.

After repeated attacks and destructions, including in 1482 during the Hook and Cod wars by the pro-Burgundian Cod faction, and in the disaster year of 1672, the castle was restored and expanded each time until the last resident passed away. Much damage was also caused in 1674 by a tornado that also damaged the Dom Church in Utrecht. The castle and the associated lands and rights remained in the Catholic branch of the Van Zuylen van Nijevelt family, which had settled around Bruges. Although the family maintained ties with their Dutch property, it was no longer inhabited and fell into increasing disrepair. By the end of the 19th century, only a romantic ruin remained. In 1890, Etienne baron van Zuylen van Nyevelt van de Haar (1860-1934) inherited the castle ruin from his father Gustave. Etienne married the French-Jewish baroness Hélène de Rothschild (1863-1947), an heiress from the wealthy banking family de Rothschild, on August 16, 1887, in Paris. Thanks in part to her fortune, Etienne had the means to have the ancestral castle rebuilt in a grand manner.

For the reconstruction of the castle, the famous architect Pierre Cuypers was engaged, who, in close collaboration with his son Joseph Cuypers, would work on it for 20 years (from 1892 to 1912). Although the baron and baroness never intended to live in the castle permanently, it was equipped with all the comforts that were available in Europe at the end of the 19th century. The castle had to be very comfortable in order to receive guests in grandeur at least in late summer, in August and September. For Dutch standards, the furnishings of the castle with these modern features were very remarkable. Electric lighting was installed with a private generator, and central heating was provided using a low-pressure steam system. This installation is now internationally recognized as an industrial monument. The kitchen was also very modern for that period and still has a large collection of copper pots and pans and an enormous stove from the Drouet company, approximately 6 meters long, which was fueled by coal. The tiles in the kitchen are adorned with the family crests of the Van de Haar and Van Zuylen families; the tiles were specially baked at the Van Hulst company in Harlingen.

The tradition of 'September habitation' has also been continued by their children and grandchildren after Etienne and Hélène. For instance, former owner Thierry baron van Zuylen van Nyevelt (1932-2011) spent every September with his family and staff at the castle. It was then not accessible to the public.

Castle de Haar is no longer owned by the Van Zuylen family. In 2000, the castle and the adjacent park (55 ha) became the property of the Castle de Haar Foundation. The Van Zuylen family still owns the furniture and art collection and has lent it to the Foundation for a period of 30 years. In 2000, the Haarzuilens estate (350 ha) was also sold to the Nature Monuments Association.

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