Last update: May 2026
If you’re looking for castles in the Netherlands, Gelderland is the province to put at the top of your list. Gelderland is home to more castles and country estates than any other province in the country, some open to the public as museums, others private residences, and a handful transformed into hotels and event locations where you could spend a night or organise a wedding reception. While it would be lovely to visit all of them, I picked only five Gelderland castles to introduce to you today.
If you’re new to Dutch castles, you might also enjoy my piece on Kasteel de Haar near Utrecht — the most fairy-tale of them all. For context on the wider province, the Discover the Netherlands: Gelderland Province guide is a good companion to this one.
Paleis Het Loo, Apeldoorn
The first castle from Gelderland, arguably the most famous palace in the Netherlands, is Paleis Het Loo. This is a palace in Apeldoorn, built by the house of Orange-Nassau between 1684 and 1686. The Dutch baroque architecture is stunning and the Baroque gardens make you think of Versailles (they were even called the Versailles of Holland). Paleis Het Loo was used as a summer residence by the royal family until it was transformed into a museum in 1984, after extensive renovations. After a major restoration completed in 2023, the palace reopened with a new underground extension hidden beneath the central courtyard, lit from above through glass-floored ponds set into the courtyard floor. Nowadays, the interiors showcase original furniture, various objects and you can take various audio tours to learn more about the past inhabitants. After that, you can then stroll through the gardens (it would be impossible to visit Het Loo without seeing the gardens!), visit the stables, and end your visit with a stop at the restaurant.
Kasteel Doorwerth, on the Rhine
Doorwerth Castle is a medieval castle, built in the 13th century. It’s located in the Doorwerth village on the banks of the Rhine, in the Veluwe, and surrounded by the lovely landgoed Duno area where you can go hiking or biking. The castle interior will transport you in medieval times and show you how people used to live here. The collection comprises furniture, objects, paintings and photographs. There’s a treasure hunt organised for kids.
Some of the castle’s rooms can be rented for events, and you can book accommodation in the gatehouse, transformed into a lovely hotel. Of all the castles in the Netherlands, this is one of the most cinematic to approach with the river, the meadows, the silhouette of the castle rising up; in autumn especially it’s unforgettable.
Kasteel Rosendael, near Arnhem
Rosendael Castle is a late medieval castle, which was built by the Count of Gelre. The castle is located in the village of Rozendaal, just outside Arnhem. It is part of the protected historic country estate Rosendael. Throughout the history, it was theresidence of the counts of Gelderland. It is surrounded by a 19th century garden. The round tower, called the donjon, is the largest of its kind that was preserved in the Netherlands, built around 1300, with walls up to four metres thick. It can be a pleasant day-trip for adults and children alike. Many of the original interior elements can still be seen, including a beautiful collection of furniture, silver, porcelain and family portraits. In the park there are ponds and fountains, a shell gallery and a tea dome. The castle can be visited with a guided tour, then you can wander around the park by yourself.
It’s also a wedding location for a fairy tale wedding at the castle.
Huis Bergh, near the German border
Huis Bergh is a moated castle with a medieval art collection (one of the most important in the Netherlands) holding early Italian paintings and an extraordinary collection of medieval manuscripts. Huis Bergh is in ‘s-Heerenberg, right by the German border. It was previously owned by the counts van Bergh, a rich family with important positions in the church and state. The building history goes back to the 13th century, but the parts that still exist today date from the 14th, 15th and 17th centuries. The collection, including works attributed to Duccio, was largely assembled in the early twentieth century by the industrialist Jan Herman van Heek, who saved the castle from ruin and gave it to a foundation. The castle can now be visited as a museum and it’s also a hotel and an event centre.
Note: in 2026 Huis Bergh is closed for renovations.
Kasteel Vorden and the Pieterpad
Vorden Castle is a moated castle whose history goes back to the 14th century, surrounded by a moat and featuring stylishly furnished rooms, secret passages, towers and vaults. Here you can admire beautiful antique furniture, paintings, sculptures and porcelain. Vorden Castle can be rented for events, therefore you need to check the opening times before your visit. There are a few rooms for overnight accommodation, or you could rent the entire castle (if your bank account agrees with you)! The castle is surrounded by forest and there are many walking routes available in the area, including the famous Pieterpad! Vorden is actually where the Pieterpad was officially opened in 1983; there’s a small monument in the village to Toos Goorhuis and Bertje Jens, the two women who created the trail.
At the nearby restaurant you can taste home-made cakes, soups and lunches.
How to Visit These Castles from Amsterdam
All five of these castles sit in Gelderland, roughly an hour to ninety minutes by train and bus from Amsterdam Centraal. The easiest base is Apeldoorn (direct train, around 75 minutes) for Paleis Het Loo, or Arnhem (around an hour from Amsterdam) for Doorwerth and Rosendael. Huis Bergh and Vorden are further east, so they make more sense as part of a longer trip or with a car.
If you find this list of Dutch castles to be a good inspiration for future day-trips, save it in your browser! And share it with your friends, so more people find out about these Dutch beauties 🙂
P.S. Every year, during the Open Castle Days, more than 100 castles and country estates all over the Netherlands open their doors for visitors. Check the Day of the Castle website for info about the next events.
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