If I were to have a job as a guide to people who don't know the Netherlands, and who have never…read morebeen to a castle, I would show them this one.
They have done an outstanding job giving you great information on the hows, wheres, whys, and whats of living and running a castle in Medieval times. Everywhere you go there are large information tablets, in Dutch and English, with explanations of the historical significances and/or changes that took place.
We started the tour in the kitchen, an interesting place to learn about how they stored foods and wines, complete with separate entry for filling the pantries (almost secretive), and big keys for the meats and alcohol (I guess they had problems back then already with people 'sampling') cellars. The point was well made of how big a part a castle fulfilled by feeding large crowds in times of special holidays, during wars, and general times of bad harvests.
Then one continued up the stairs, and we landed in the general hall. They have restored the fireplace and reinforced the windows. Yet you could feel the cold the closer you stood to the outside wall -- a good thing during the hot summer day we were visiting, but in the winter less so, I can imagine. We were informed of important dignitaries who had visited during its history, of course. Then we continued, up the stairs, to bedrooms (larger than mine now) and other receiving rooms, and a library. On the top floor, after climbing another set of stairs, the museum gave background information on the landscape and plants, along with a room dedicated to paintings of those times.
I had to stop counting staircases after climbing about 4 or 5 of them. Stairs were all over the different parts of the castle, and even in between rooms, and going from one room to the next room. To get to the bathroom you even had to climb a few stairs! I cannot imagine what that would be like if you were physically challenged with your knee or leg in some manner.
And that was the biggest lesson I took with me: you had to have been in good shape to survive in those days. Perhaps that could be a lesson for all of us, to continue to stay in good health by walking plenty and grabbing the staircase.
P.S. The restaurant outside is not bad, good coffee and tea.
