September 1: 11.00 - 12.00 hours

A festive kick-off

On September 1, Kasteel de Haar heralds the September tradition with a festive opening lecture. During this lecture, curator Katrien Timmers will take visitors back to the sparkling September days of yesteryear, when the baron and baroness received their guests for a 'grandiose sojourn'.

The grandeur of September

At the end of the 19th century, Baron Etienne had the dilapidated castle rebuilt into a magnificent country estate that not only breathed medieval allure, but also offered the comforts of a modern palace. Together with his wife Hélène de Rothschild, he made the September month at De Haar the time when the international elite gathered. Royal families, artists, industrialists and film stars enjoyed dinners, balls and meetings here as nowhere else in the Netherlands.

From grand dinners with carefully chosen table arrangements to secret anecdotes about illustrious guests: Katrien Timmers tells how this tradition came about and grew into a social and cultural highlight.

A look behind the scenes

The stories not only bring the grandeur to life, but also give a glimpse into the daily life of the castle. How to organize dinners for dozens of high-ranking guests? What role did the international press play? And how did nobility and artists, politicians and society figures combine their stay with sports, games and recreation? Stories that rarely leave the castle walls.

Visitor information

The opening lecture takes place in the atmospheric Chapel of Castle de Haar and is the festive start of the September Tradition.

🕘 Date & Time: September 1, 11:00 - 12:00 a.m.
📍 Location: Chapel, Castle de Haar
🎟️ Admission: free with castle or garden visit. Limited number of spots available - be on time, full is full.

The September Tradition begins here - and you are most welcome!

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