Our plans in the Netherlands didn’t go the way we expected… and it completely changed this stop.
We originally planned something very different, but after a change of plans, we discovered something we hadn’t expected at all. What started with uncertainty quickly turned into one of the best experiences of our motorhome trip.
In this vlog, we arrive at a new campsite near Utrecht, get set up, and explore the area before heading out by bike. That’s when everything changed. We visited the incredible De Haar Castle (Kasteel de Haar), a stunning fairytale castle just outside Utrecht, and it completely transformed how we felt about this stop.
This is what motorhome travel is all about. Plans change, and sometimes those unexpected moments turn into the highlights of the whole journey.
If you’re travelling Europe by motorhome or campervan, this is a great reminder to stay flexible and embrace the journey.
Our Plans Changed in the Netherlands… And We Found This 🇳🇱
Campsite: https://polderhaan.nl/de-polderhaan/
#motorhometravel, #netherlands, #vanlifeeurope, #campervanlife, #travelvlog, #dehaarcastle, #utrecht,
You can buy us Coffee at – https://ko-fi.com/lifes4touring
If you enjoyed this video, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell icon to get notifications set to ‘All’ so you won’t miss any new content! 🔔
🔔 Subscribe for more just like this – https://www.youtube.com/@lifes4touring?sub_confirmation=1
🛍️ Lifes4Touring Merch
If you’d like to support the channel, we’ve got a small range of Lifes4Touring merch available – hoodies, t-shirts, polos, mugs, and more.
👉 Shop here:
https://theprintandmerchcompany.co.uk/marketplace/lifes4touringmerchandise/
Jodie’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@jodieblifes4U
Jodie’s Patreon Community: https://www.patreon.com/c/lifes4UCoaching
Contact – lifes4touring@gmail.com
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/lifes4touring
Instagram – @lifes4touring
Thank you to all the subscribers, you are all amazing, Happy Travels 😊
Things we have bought are shown in our Vlogs:
Homcomodar Outdoor Rug – https://amzn.to/438y8zc
VB-AIRSUSPENSION – Full air 4C
Maxxair MaxxFan Deluxe
Carsio Carpet Car Mats For Fiat Ducato Motorhome 2015+ Onwards
https://amzn.to/4gPhwlZ
Dyna-Living Flexible Bendable Ceiling Curtain Track
https://amzn.to/4fWebA3
MARVIX Detachable 360 Swivel Table Leg System
https://amzn.to/40dxbEy
Clearcut Campervan Design – Round table top
https://amzn.to/40vwEPo
UNMAR White PVC Edge Banding 15 mm x 7.5 m – Peel and Stick Strong Adhesive
https://amzn.to/3WhXwjy
Black Plastic PVC Corner 90 Degree 1 Meter Angle
https://amzn.to/3C6PKSJ
Renogy products- uk.renogy.com
Official Renogy distributors – www.rion-pro.co.uk
For top-quality insulation solutions, visit Conrad Anderson – www.conrad-anderson.co.uk
Chapters
00:00 This Wasn’t the Plan
00:35 Leaving Our Last Stop
01:55 Arriving at the Campsite
04:15 First Impressions
06:45 Setting Up
09:30 Exploring the Site
12:30 Heading Out by Bike
15:30 We Found This…
19:00 Inside the Castle
22:30 Exploring the Grounds
26:00 Campsite Review
28:30 Final Thoughts
21 Comments
My god that castle is insane
Looks beautiful ❤
Hi love your vids and i'm Dutch😊. Try to go to De Rijp and check that village and the area out.
Evening to you both that looks like a lovely place to visit so clean and well kept. If Lee was a proper Gentleman he would give you his Ebike so that he's the one struggling 😅 😅
Have you guys been to Dokkum yet? It’s a small town in the northern province Friesland. I grew up there, it’s absolutely worth checking out! Actually, the Dutch royal family just visited on the 27th of April, for the kings birthday (you can find the livestream on YouTube!) If you guys are around, you won’t regret going to Friesland for a couple of days!
There must be a bike shop in the area. Just pop by. If it's just a pedal they should be able to fix it in minutes.
Btw, there's a little light artifact in your lens that looks like a jellyfish. Please don't wipe it off, we are trying to make a drinking game out of it. 😛
Nice I get to see a bit of my own country 😊 that sure was a great camping spot! Enjoy ❤
Castle de haar feels like the dutch version of hogwarts to me! It gives you the feeling of a magical fantasy castle
Although this was a nice trip, i still think you missed out on not visiting Utrecht. The city center is so nice with terraces along the canal, the old Dom church which dates back 1100 years. Maybe you are not aware of this but the Netherlands has a perfect public transport. You could have stayed one day longer at this nice camping place and take the bus to the city. If you are somewhere near a train station, the train will take you straight into the city center. Trains run every 15 minutes. Anyways, maybe that is something to think of for a future visit to NL Thank you for sharing the tour of castle the Haar.
Oh you poor thing, the Netherlands is pretty flat.. that is what causes the Dutch Mountains… No matter where you go the wind will try and blow you back 😂
Your pronunciation of Utrecht is within acceptable parameters for me to know what place you are talking about 🤣 That being said I would do much worse with Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch when I'm visiting your country
🎵She's got Betty Davis eyes….🎵
The rich and the famous used to attend the parties at the castle. Tout Hollywood and other famous wealthy people like you have Brigitte Bardot, Roger Moore, Coco Chanel, Maria Callas, Yves Saint Laurent, Joan Collins and Gregory Peck … the family that owns it still occupies the castle one month per year, I believe in September. The flag with the family crest will then be raised …
In 2000, the family transferred the castle and gardens to Stichting (foundation) Kasteel de Haar to ensure its preservation.
The family, specifically the daughters and granddaughters of the late Baron Thierry van Zuylen, still use the castle during the month of September.
Historically, the family (specifically under Baron Etienne and Hélène de Rothschild) used the castle for lavish parties, hosting famous guests like Coco Chanel and Brigitte Bardot, but it was never their primary home.
In addition to the main castle, the family retained ownership of the châtelet, a smaller, attached building.
For a long time the entrance to the castle, at the big main fence used to be at the village side. A very beautiful village square with historic elements. And a nice restaurant where you can eat and where you also can get pancakes. This village square is also really something you should see. Used to be property of the Baron also, this village.
at 550 m from this campsite, there is a bus stop with a direct connection to Utrecht Central Station which will take you there in just 30 minnutes (bus 102).
It's a late 19th century romantic rebuild of a much older castle that was almost completely destroyed. And surely was less frivolous 😂
The paper model at 11:16 is probably more historically accurate. It also shows what the ruins looked like before the rebuilding started.
De Haar has been rebuild and designed by Pierre Cuypers and the design had to make it look like a an old French styled Castle, the same architect who designed Amsterdam Centraal Station. This new build castle had no military purpose or any defensive purpose, just a fantasy castle to live and posh towards their guests…. 😄
Fun fact; the Belgian Baron Étienne van Zuylen van Nyevelt van de Haar married Baroness Hélène de Rothschild, one of the heirs of the Rothschild's fortune and he inherited the land, they both wanted to rebuild the castle to fit their style and glamour as a wedding present, she was loaded with money in the beginning of the 19th century. De Rothschilds bankers family were one of the richest families in Europe for centuries. I live less then 8kms away from Haarzuilens and sometimes go walking with my dog around there, in the past the woods and outer gardens were free entree but not anymore same as the parking lot, only free entree area's are now from Natuurmonumenten (nature preservation organisation of the Netherlands) around the Castle and they are nice to walk aswell but not as nice as the private gardens and woods.
13:46 probably a servants living area.
The most beautiful castle of the Netherlands.
What a beautifull day you're having!!! i really enjoy you guys filming the castle. thank you !!! 🎉
If you liked this castle, I would really recommend going to (palace het Loo) if you got some spare time
The highest point of The Netherlands is actually higher than in some other european countries