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Kasteel De Haar

The medieval castle was rebuilt after 1892, at immense cost, by Baron Etienne van Zuylen van Nijevelt. The gardens were also re-made (by Henri Copijn after 1895) with ornamental waters, groves, kitchen-gardens and aviaries. As on many German estates the aim was to have a French layout near the house (the Northern Park) surrounded by a Romantic English park (the Southern Park - now a golf course).

Head Gardener's Comment

The park and gardens surrounding De Haar Castle are worth a visit in their own right. The Rose Garden, the Roman Garden, the ponds and canals, as well as the many bridges, romantic vistas and impressive avenues invite visitors to go on long walks or have a picnic. Each season in the park has its own charm.

Photograph © Kasteel de Haar

Photograph © Kasteel de Haar

Photograph © Kasteel de Haar

Photograph © Jthole

Photograph © Kasteel de Haar

History

Look here for our Photogallery - http://www.kasteeldehaar.nl/159/Fotogallery.html.
The gardens of De Haar castle are in part a reconstruction of the old gardens - with ornamental waters, groves, kitchen-gardens and aviaries - and in part an addition to the original layout. To enable repair and enlargement the neighbouring farm houses were purchased, pulled down, and reconstructed elsewhere. The Baron financed all this.

The design and layout of the gardens was not a simple matter at all. While reconstructing the old gardens, the characteristics of the surrounding landscape - a pasture area - had to be maintained. This complicated task was entrusted to Henri Copijn in 1895, and he managed to solve the problems in a skilful manner. In an open landscape arose an English landscape style park in which - around the castle - French baroque gardens were created.

The castle, surrounded by the baroque gardens, is situated in the Northern Park. Using scattered groups of trees, a 'natural' transition between park and polder land has been achieved. The Southern Park, now in use as a golf course, has a full landscape style layout. In the Netherlands this style became the fashion in the course of the nineteenth century, and it provides meandering paths, fanciful ponds, romantic views, and picturesque little bridges.