Slot Zuylen Castle is situated on the river Vecht in the tiny village of Oud-Zuilen near Utrecht. Whilst retaining many of its medieval castle-like features it was converted into a country mansion in the 18th century. Its most famous resident was Belle van Zuylen (Isabelle de Charrière), writer of fame and feminist avant la lettre. Slot Zuylen opened its doors to visitors 60 years ago and has meanwhile acquired museum status. Admission to the castle museum is by guided tour only, which lasts around 75 minutes. Guided tours are given in Dutch, but all are welcome to join as information sheets are available to follow along in English, French or German.

Slot Zuylen is surrounded by historic gardens, which are perfect for relaxing strolls. One of the main features of the garden is its famous serpentine wall.

Slot Zuylen: castle like building near Utrecht, visits only with guide booked in advance - See 107 traveller reviews, 242 candid photos, and great deals for Oud-Zuilen, The Netherlands, at Tripadvisor.

The largest castle in the Netherlands, built in brick and surrounded by moats, was built in 1892 by the architect P.J.H. Cuypers in the neo-Gothic style. The main building, enclosed by towers, is linked to a large entrance gate by a covered bridge. The interior houses the collections of Baron Van Zuylen van Nyevelt, which include furniture, Flemish tapestries, Persian carpets, paintings. Utrecht Tourism; Utrecht Hotels; Utrecht Bed and Breakfast; Utrecht Holiday Rentals; Utrecht Packages; Flights to Utrecht; Utrecht Restaurants; Utrecht Attractions.

Museumcafé
Housed inside the former carriage house, the museum café serves fairtrade coffee and tea, organic juices, baked goods and a lunch menu featuring products from the museum garden. It also serves high tea. With various walking and cycling trails passing along the carriage house, the museum café is a lovely spot where all are welcome to relax and recharge over coffee, tea or lunch.

Day Tour

The Dutch Travel Advisor

Tour Features

Experience(s)

• Cruises & Water Tours
• Culture, History & Arts
• Family Vacations
• Sightseeing

Meals

None

Recommended Ages

All Ages

Activity Level

Easy

Description

9.15am Meet and greet with your English-speaking guide / driver in the hotel lobby, from where you will be taken for a 25-minute drive by luxurious private vehicle to the picturesque village Loenen aan de Vecht, where you will board a private historical saloon boat for a spectacular cruise on the River Vecht.

Slot Zuylen Restaurant Nyc

A cruise on the Vecht means cruising past beautiful estates. During the 17th and 18th centuries, the rich merchants of Amsterdam built 200 estates along the Vecht, looking to invest their wealth and for a peaceful retreat in the spacious outdoors. They spent their summers here, returning in the winters to their homes along the Amsterdam canals. Life was good out in the countryside; they received guests, went hunting or fishing, cruising on the river or drank tea in their tea pavilions.

Along the Vecht you will see many of these tea pavilions. Each estate had its own tea pavilion, and no two were alike. Some of them were built with a boathouse beneath them, some were round and others square, some had a thatch roof, others a roof of lead. It was a place that people enjoyed to sit: to see and be seen. It was important to people at that time to show off their wealth. Such a pavilion put them in full view, so that all those passing could see that they drank tea, a very expensive drink in the 17th century!

We will go through picturesque villages such as Nieuwersluis, Breukelen and Maarsen where they will open up their bridges just for us.

12.30pm The cruise will end at Brasserie Oud Zuilen in Oud Zuylen, where you will have leisure time for lunch. The restaurant is beautifully situated, with a spectacular view over the River Vecht.

1.45pm Fully refreshed, continue with a short scenic drive to, and a guided tour of Slot (Castle) Zuylen, which is one of the oldest castles along the River Vecht. The castle has a rich history, passing through various families and boasting some influential inhabitants - including several powerful women, like the writer Belle van Zuylen (Isabelle de Charrière). During the private guided tour, you can experience daily life in a real castle.

The castle has a history dating back to 1250, when it was used as a strategic point on the banks of the River Vecht. It was a sturdy tower (keep) with thick walls. Two centuries later, due to a conflict rebellious citizens from the nearby city of Utrecht destroyed this keep. In 1522, Willem van Rennenberg built a large castle with an inner courtyard on the ruins of the former keep. An impressive gatehouse together with a moat and a drawbridge were added to make the castle easy to defend.

In 1665, through marriage the noble family Van Tuyll van Serooskerken became the owners of Slot Zuylen. A major alteration was realized in 1752. The architect Jacob Marot, son of the famous French architect Daniel Marot, was hired to convert the castle into a comfortable 18th century country mansion. A forecourt with a new entrance was created. A hall with a staircase were added to provide all the rooms with an entrance to the hallway. The Van Tuylls resided here until the 1950s when the family decided to set up a foundation which made it possible to open up the castle for the public.

Belle van Zuylen lived at Slot Zuylen until she was 31 and married Charles de Charrière, who allowed her the independence she so desired. Her extensive correspondence with philosophers like Rousseau, Kant and Voltaire reveals that she was an unconventional and emancipated woman. She attended lectures (physics and maths) at university but, as a woman, could only do so from behind a curtain. At an early age she wrote her first novel “Le Noble” in which she satirized the nobility.

3.30pm From here, you will be taken back to your hotel in Amsterdam, where you have the remainder of the day for your own leisure. You will arrive back around 4.15pm.

What's Included

Included

• English-speaking guide / driver.

• Transfers by luxurious private vehicle.

• Entrance fees, where applicable.

• Parking fees and gasoline.

• 21% VAT as well as local taxes.

Not Included

• Meals and beverages not mentioned.

• Personal expenses and gratuity.

About Us

The Dutch Travel Advisor specializes in private off the beaten path, custom-made & mostly high-end tours through the Netherlands & Belgium for individuals, couples, families & small groups. For over 17 years, we have given our clients the best & most successful tours available. We can open doors that remain closed to others! When planning these tours, we listen closely to our clients to determine their interests, then customize a tour catered to their wishes. We say that 99% of all requests are possible, so don't hesitate to challenge us with your request. For every time frame we can create a suitable itinerary that fits your clients' needs.

Health & Safety

As per July 1, almost all rules set by the Dutch government to fight the Covid-19 outbreak have been relaxed. The main rule that remains in effect is that people should keep a 1.5-meter (5 foot) social distance from other people. Inside (museums for instance), there is no limit any more to the number of people allowed, as long as people are able to keep that 1.5-meter distance. Face masks are only mandatory when using public transport.

For a full overview, please visit our website: www.thedutchtraveladvisor.com/newsThe Dutch Travel Advisor is running at 100% capacity.

Slot Zuylen Restaurant Supply

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