Having a castle built is one thing. Moving an entire village because it stands in the way is another.
In 1890 Baron inherited a ruin. His wife, , had the fortune to do something with it. They handed the commission to , architect of the , who started in 1892. The work was meant to take three years. It took twenty.
The village of had to go, to make room for the park and its sightlines. It was rebuilt two kilometres away in the style of the castle, designed by Cuypers' son Jos. Only the derelict church stayed where it was, and it now serves as the castle chapel. Thousands of fully grown trees were hauled in from the so the park would look old from the start.
Inside came some two hundred rooms, thirty bathrooms, a passenger lift, central heating and running hot water. Cuypers wanted ornament everywhere. The baroness had her own bedrooms done in white and ordered standard furniture for them, to the architect's dismay.
The family no longer owns the castle. September is still reserved for them.
Back in the city? Our walking routes through Utrecht show you places you would otherwise walk straight past.
Sources. Story: sKBL on De Haar and the rebuilding from 1892; Dutch national monuments register, 't Wapen van Haarzuylen, on the relocation of the village; Verhaal van Utrecht on the rebuilding of Kasteel de Haar; WUR database TUiN on the park and the two-kilometre move; Het Utrechts Archief. Photos: Source photo: Het Utrechts Archief
