Would you like to hear high-profile stories about the Van Zuylen family and learn more about the beautiful rooms and special collection of Castle de Haar? From now on you can listen to our new audio tour full of fascinating stories and anecdotes. The audio tour takes you through the rooms of the castle and tells the story of the grandiose habitation, with lively anecdotes from Baroness Alexandra (right on the picture above). Of course, much is also told about the interior and the collection with its magnificent sculptures, murals and special artifacts.

The Dutch audio tour is voiced by actress Anne-Wil Blankers.

Anne-Wil has acted as a successful actress in numerous films and series and had a brilliant role in the series Pleasantly Arranged. She also appeared regularly in theater shows, with the musical Soldier of Orange certainly not the least. Already in 2001 Anne-Wil got acquainted with Castle de Haar, when the mini-series 'Wilhelmina' was recorded here. In it, she took on the role of the young monarch, in which she passed with flying colors. In 2018, she opened the exhibition Films & Sterren op De Haar together with Willeke van Ammelrooy.

A GRANDIOSE EXISTENCE

The audio tour will teach you all about the impressive lifestyle of Baron Etienne van Zuylen and Baroness Hélène de Rothschild. Every year in September, for example, they received family, friends and guests of high status in grandiose fashion. The van Zuylen family wanted to impress their guests with their enormous status, wealth and possessions; the audio tour tells you about the table arrangement, where the most important persons - in the Baron's eyes - were allowed to sit closest to the hosts. The baron also had electricity installed immediately when the castle was rebuilt; he was one of the first with electricity and was proud of it. He showed this by turning light bulbs clearly visible in the coffered ceiling. This way everyone saw that Castle de Haar already had electric lighting and the queen did not yet!

You will also learn all about the working methods of architect Pierre Cuypers; his dream was to form one large work of art in Gothic style from all the designs: a gesamtkunstwerk. Everything in one style may seem boring, but Cuypers was very good at adding variety; not everything too symmetrical and occasionally deviating from his own rules.

Want to learn more about the rich history of the castle and the Van Zuylen family? The audio tour is available in Dutch and English and can be rented in the castle's souvenir store for €2.50.