Muiderslot is a small medieval castle over 700 years old. It is located in Muiden, a town which lies about 13km east of Amsterdam.
Muiderslot Castle is one of the best-preserved heritage sites in the Netherlands and makes for a fun and rewarding day out from Amsterdam. From its colourful history, period rooms and beautifully kept gardens, here’s our guide to visiting Muiderslot.
Muiderslot Castle in a nutshell
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The castle is open year round – we visited Muiderslot on a sunny, early spring day.
Origins and History of Muiderslot Castle
Muiderslot Castle was built around 1285 by Count Floris V as a strategic defensive point at the mouth of the Vecht River – where it used to flow into the Zuiderzee (now the IJmeer). It played an important role in protecting trade routes and the region from invaders.
However in 1296 Floris V was betrayed and imprisoned at the castle – and then executed. By 1300 the original castle had been demolished. At the end of the 14th century the castle was rebuilt in the same format by Albert I, the Duke of Bavaria.
In the 17th century, it became the home of poet and historian Pieter Corneliszoon Hooft (1581-1647). He invited a circle of artists and intellectuals – known as the Muiderkring – to gather at Muiderslot and he spent a total of 38 years living here.
By the late 18th century the castle was derelict and had fallen into disrepair. King William I intervened and decided to restore the castle – and eventually, in 1878 it opened as a national museum having been redesigned by noted architect Pierre Cuypers (of Rijksmuseum fame).
Today, it’s a national museum and UNESCO-listed site, carefully restored to reflect its long and fascinating history.
Muiderslot Castle: Grounds and Gardens
The castle has a classical square layout with 4 rounded-corner towers, an inner courtyard and is surrounded by a moat with drawbridge access. It is relatively small with dimensions of 32 x 35m and the tallest Western tower is 25m in height.
You can walk around the entire structure with some elevated views from the dyke on the northern side.
The grounds contain a restored plum orchard (pruimenboomgaard) which was originally planted by P.C. Hooft in 1620. At that time plums were used as a sweetener for foods.
There are 18 different kinds of plum varieties and if you visit Muiderslot castle during the first Sunday in September you can get to taste some of the harvest.
On the eastern side can be found the castle gardens consisting of a herb garden (kruidhof) and vegetable garden (warmoeshof) – split by a picturesque tunnel made of beech trees,
Tree tunnels were fashionable at the time to allow the well-to-do ladies to enjoy the gardens without taking too much sun.
Herbs were widely used in the 17th century for cooking, medicinal purposes and for dying wool. The garden also has some ornamental flowers and plants.
Inside the Castle
Crossing the drawbridge and entering Muiderslot Castle feels like stepping straight into a medieval storybook.
An audio tour is included with your entrance ticket and will provide further insight to your visit. You can pick up the hand-held audio guide at the desk in the courtyard.
It is available in 10 languages – Dutch, English, French, German, Italian, Spanish, Arabic, Hebrew, Chinese Mandarin, Russian.
There are 2 routes – the main Knight’s Route which starts at the Western tower and tours the castle highlights.
There is also a Tower Route which overviews the defence of the castle (this audio is only available in Dutch and English).
Additionally, there is a Garden Tour – but this is only for use on mobile devices via a QR code at the garden entrance.
The interior has been carefully restored and furnished to reflect two key periods: the Middle Ages, when the castle served a defensive purpose, and the 17th century, when it became a more refined residence under the stewardship of P.C. Hooft.
Here are some of the highlights of the castle:
The Knights’ Hall: This large, dramatic room is the centerpiece of the castle. With its high wooden beams, stone walls and large fireplace, it gives a powerful impression of feasting and decision-making in the age of knights.
The Armory: Showcasing swords, muskets, lances and suits of armor, this room likely kept a store of weapons that could be quickly deployed during an attack.
Private Chambers: Furnished in 17th-century style, the private rooms show how life evolved when Muiderslot became a more peaceful and cultured home. You’ll find writing desks, artwork, musical instruments and domestic objects of the time.
You will also see the special canopy beds which were used for sleeping upright at that time – similar beds can also be seen at the Rembrandt House in Amsterdam.
The Towers: You can climb staircases inside the towers for panoramic views of the castle grounds, surrounding waterways and the nearby town of Muiden. Along the way, small rooms and hidden stairwells offer insight into how the castle’s defenses worked.
The highest Western tower has 83 steps up to the top!
The Dungeon: If you’re feeling brave, head down into the small dungeon. In the middle ages prisoners were interrogated using torture and were then punished accordingly. The cartoon poster on the wall will show you all the gruesome punishments that were carried out!
The Castle Kitchen: Muiderslot was largely self-sufficient with herbs, fruit and vegetables from the gardens, fish from the Zuiderzee and game from the surrounding land. The kitchen was at the centre of castle activity.
Castle facilities
There is a children’s treasure hunt activity available for inside the castle. Outside there is a decent playground on-site where they can let off some steam.
Within the grounds you will find a greenhouse-style cafe and small shop called the Tuinkamer, with some outdoor seating. It is a nice spot for a drink or snack.
A visit to Muiderslot Castle should take up around 1.5 to 2 hours. Allow half-a-day when including a wander around Muiden and the transfer to/from Amsterdam.
Consider exploring the centre of Muiden which sits on the river Vecht. There are some small shops and cafes on the waterfront.
The Muizenfort is a historic fort on the eastern edge of the town – part of the Stelling van Amsterdam (Defence Line of Amsterdam) which is a series of forts around the city.
Is Muiderslot Castle worth visiting?
Yes, whether you’re into history, architecture or just looking for a scenic escape from the bustle of Amsterdam, Muiderslot Castle makes for a great trip out.
With its classical castle design, beautiful gardens and centuries-old stories, it offers a memorable visit for all ages.
Interested in more castles? The Kasteel De Haar near Utrecht is the largest castle in the Netherlands.
Muiderslot Castle Essential Info
Muiderslot Castle Opening HoursCastle open daily 10:00-17:00. In the winter season (Nov-Mar) the park is closed on Mondays. |
Muiderslot Castle Tickets & AdmissionPark and castle entrance costs €19.50 for adults, €7.50 for children 4-11. Free entry for children 0-3 and Museumkaart holders. Book Muiderslot Castle tickets here Free entry is also available to I amsterdam City Card holders and Go City: Amsterdam All Inclusive Pass holders |
How to Get to Muiderslot CastleBy public transport, you can take a train to Weesp station from Amsterdam or Utrecht. Then take the hourly TransDev bus 110 to stop Muiden Centrum. This is about 10 minutes walk from the castle.  There is also Muiden P+R bus stop which is about 15 minutes walk further out from Muiden Centrum. Bus 110 also runs between the P+R and Centrum stops.  You can reach Muiden P+R from Amsterdam Amstel by bus 320 (direction Hilversum station), bus 322 (Almere Parkwijk) and bus 327 (Almere De Steiger).  From Amsterdam Bijlmer ArenA there is also bus 209 (Laren) which stops at Muiden P+R during weekdays. The Amsterdam & Region Travel Ticket (1-3 days) is valid on all public transport in the greater Amsterdam region. This includes the train between Amsterdam and Weesp and all the above bus services. We recommend getting this ticket for travel to Muiderslot. There is also a summer ferry service running from Muiden to the fortress Island Pampus (Tue-Sun during April to October). Bicycle to Muiderslot: It is possible to cycle from Amsterdam to Muiden with various routes ranging from 17-24km. Muiderslot Car Park: It is possible to drive to Muiden via the A1 motorway – take exit 3 for Muiden. There is a small car park on site which costs €2.40 per hour or €21.60 for the day. Alternatively there is free parking at car parks P1 (at Maxisweg) and P2 (Mariahoeveweg) – both of these are 15 minutes walk away. You can also park for free at Muiden P+R. |
Address / ContactRijksmuseum Muiderslot, Herengracht 1, 1398 AA Muiden |
First published on 9 April 2025.
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