Haarzuilens village

Haarzuilens
When Baron Etienne van Zuylen van Nijevelt van de Haar decided to restore his ancestral castle, he undertook to purchase the grounds that originally belonged to it. This is the origin of the present estate De Haar, which sizes up to 450 hectares. The village of Haarzuilens is part of this estate.

The old village
Approximately at the place where the Roman Garden and the Manege were laid out, the ancient village was situated until 1898. The origins of this picturesque hamlet are still a mystery. Presumably, the village arose in the Middle Ages under the protection of the walls of De Haar. The castle village has hardly grown in size through the ages. Some twenty-five houses were gathered around a village square with large trees. The village had an inn, which also served as a council chamber. The approximately 150 inhabitants of the village earned a living mainly by arable and dairy farming.

The new village
With the first plans to restore the castle in 1891 the subject of relocation of the old village of Haarzuilens (necessary to lay-out a vast park and hunting area) was mentioned. Therefore the village was situated 1.5 kilometres to the east. In 1898, the inhabitants moved into their new homes, accompanied by great festivities. These houses are also built around a trapezoidal village square. The most striking building is the 'Wapen van Haarzuilens', which was designed as an inn and a council chamber. Practically all shutters and doors in Haarzuilens are red and white, the colours of the Van Zuylen family. Every year in September, the fun fair of Haarzuilens is traditionally opened by the Baron who presents a great fire-works display to the inhabitants. Haarzuilens
When Baron Etienne van Zuylen van Nijevelt van de Haar decided to restore his ancestral castle, he undertook to purchase the grounds that originally belonged to it. This is the origin of the present estate De Haar, which sizes up to 450 hectares. The village of Haarzuilens is part of this estate.

The old village
Approximately at the place where the Roman Garden and the Manege were laid out, the ancient village was situated until 1898. The origins of this picturesque hamlet are still a mystery. Presumably, the village arose in the Middle Ages under the protection of the walls of De Haar. The castle village has hardly grown in size through the ages. Some twenty-five houses were gathered around a village square with large trees. The village had an inn, which also served as a council chamber. The approximately 150 inhabitants of the village earned a living mainly by arable and dairy farming.

The new village
With the first plans to restore the castle in 1891 the subject of relocation of the old village of Haarzuilens (necessary to lay-out a vast park and hunting area) was mentioned. Therefore the village was situated 1.5 kilometres to the east. In 1898, the inhabitants moved into their new homes, accompanied by great festivities. These houses are also built around a trapezoidal village square. The most striking building is the 'Wapen van Haarzuilens', which was designed as an inn and a council chamber. Practically all shutters and doors in Haarzuilens are red and white, the colours of the Van Zuylen family. Every year in September, the fun fair of Haarzuilens is traditionally opened by the Baron who presents a great fire-works display to the inhabitants.