Last week, we traveled to the Netherlands to visit several sites. First up was in Utrecht: Kasteel de Haar, or "Castle of Hair." Just kidding . . . it was originally owned in Medieval times by the de Haar family, passing through several hands (and cycles of destruction typical to the time) over the centuries. The current romantic structure dates from the 1890s; wikipedia provides more background.
The entrance hints that something grand is coming. Note the striking red/white colors, brick architecture, and plethora of bicycles. We are in the Netherlands, after all (25 miles south of Amsterdam, to be exact).
Okay, we're through the visitor center; let's look around the outside of the castle first. Wow! This place is breathtaking, and I imagine it's even better in summer, with gardens in full bloom.
Okay, time to go in. Are we entering Hogwarts?
Inside is overwhelming, too. The grand hall is impressive (and was impossible for me to adequately capture). The other rooms are similarly overpowering, with detail and art filling every possible space.
Overall impression: somebody had a lot of money they wanted to spend; this was built to show off. I'm sure it had the desired effect then, and a trip is well worth it today, over a century later.
The entrance hints that something grand is coming. Note the striking red/white colors, brick architecture, and plethora of bicycles. We are in the Netherlands, after all (25 miles south of Amsterdam, to be exact).
Okay, we're through the visitor center; let's look around the outside of the castle first. Wow! This place is breathtaking, and I imagine it's even better in summer, with gardens in full bloom.
Okay, time to go in. Are we entering Hogwarts?
Inside is overwhelming, too. The grand hall is impressive (and was impossible for me to adequately capture). The other rooms are similarly overpowering, with detail and art filling every possible space.
Overall impression: somebody had a lot of money they wanted to spend; this was built to show off. I'm sure it had the desired effect then, and a trip is well worth it today, over a century later.
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