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Category:Utrecht

Drakensteyn Castle

Drakensteyn Castle is the private property of Princess Beatrix. She acquired the castle in 1959 and had it renovated. She lived there with her husband, Prince Claus, and her three sons from 1963 until their move in 1981 to Huis ten Bosch Palace in The Hague. Early in 2014, Princess Beatrix moved back into the castle. Drakensteyn Castle is situated in a forested area near the town Lage Vuursche in the municipality of Baarn.

  • Walk or cycle near where Princess Beatrix lives.
  • Enjoy the tranquility and space in the woods of Lage Vuursche.
  • Enjoy a pancake at one of the many pancake restaurants.

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Lots of history, lots of style

Surrounded by 20 ha of forest, Drakensteyn Castle is beautifully secluded in the province of Utrecht. This country seat is a relatively small castle exuding an intimate ambience. It is built in a Dutch Classical style with a prominent octagon. The history of the castle dates back to 1360.

Princess Beatrix returns to Drakensteyn Castle

After King Willem-Alexander succeeded his mother in 2013, Princess Beatrix decided to return to Drakensteyn Castle. The residence is therefore not accessible to the public but there is still a lot of sightseeing to be enjoyed in its surroundings, where you will find many other castles and palaces.

Visit Lage Vuursche

From the VVV Tourist Information Office in Lage Vuursche, a number of bicycle rides wind past the palaces and castles in the area, through the Eempolder Nature Preserve, and through the forests and heathlands of the Utrechtse Heuvelrug National Park. You will most certainly ride by Soestdijk Palace, which is just a stone’s throw from Drakensteyn Castle.

We recommend: The town Lage Vuursche has been designated as a village conservation area and has no less than four “pannenkoekenhuizen” (restaurants specialising in Dutch pancakes), each attracting visitors from afar.

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