Private Royal Tour: Paleis Het Loo & Muiderslot from Amsterdam

A day of 17th-century grandeur, moated medieval fortress, and countryside estates beyond the city

A private tour from Amsterdam to Paleis Het Loo, a renovated 17th-century royal palace, and Muiderslot, a 13th-century castle by the Vecht River, with a live English-speaking guide and hotel pickup. The day includes the palace gardens and royal stables, a walk through country estates near Baarn, and the return drive to Amsterdam.

Step-by-step itinerary

Explore Royal Palaces and Castles

• Meet and greet in Amsterdam
• Drive to Paleis Het Loo
• Explore Paleis Het Loo palace and gardens
• Visit Castle Muiderslot
• Drive back to Amsterdam hotel

What’s included

• Private transportation in an air-conditioned vehicle.
• hotel pickup and drop-off in Amsterdam.
• entry to Paleis Het Loo and Muiderslot Castle.
• a live guide speaking English.
• bottled water.
• and parking fees.

Times

• Tuesday to Sunday 09:00

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Before you book

Group Private 2 group tours ›

Live guide English Another language? ›

Audio guide English

Meeting point and pickup Hotel pickup included.

Book up to 4h before

Cancellation and refunds Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund. It may be canceled if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Good to know

Low physical effort Infant seats available Public transport nearby

Operated by Greetings from Europe

Prices and times updated 2 days ago

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Traveler reviews

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The experience

Your guide meets you at your hotel in Amsterdam and drives you northeast toward Paleis Het Loo, a journey of about 45 minutes. The palace itself is the centerpiece: a grand baroque structure built as a royal summer retreat in the 17th century, fully renovated and reopened to the public in 2022. You explore the opulent interiors, the immaculate palace gardens, and the royal vehicle collection: the kind of detail that separates a palace tour from a walk through a museum.

Between the two main stops, the route passes through the countryside around Baarn, where you stroll the grounds of Kasteel Groeneveld and see the striking exteriors of lesser-known estates like Kasteel De Hoge Vuursche and Kasteel Soesdijk. These are not the crowded landmarks. They are the quieter country houses that give the day its rhythm and let you move at a pace that lets details land.

Muiderslot, your final stop, is a 13th-century castle encircled by a moat and overlooking the Vecht River. Built 700 years ago and fully restored by the architect Pierre Cuypers (who designed the Rijksmuseum and Amsterdam Central Station), it is one of the oldest and best-preserved castles in the Netherlands. After your time there, your guide drives you back to your hotel in Amsterdam.

Top questions

What is Paleis Het Loo and why is it called the Versailles of the Netherlands?

Paleis Het Loo is a 17th-century royal summer retreat featuring opulent baroque interiors, immaculate palace gardens, and a collection of historic royal vehicles. It was recently renovated and reopened in 2022, and its scale and grandeur earned it the comparison to Versailles.

Can I walk around the grounds at Paleis Het Loo, or is it mostly indoors?

You explore both the lavish palace interiors and the palace gardens, so the day includes time outside on the grounds as well as inside the building.

What is Muiderslot and how old is it?

Muiderslot is a 13th-century castle built 700 years ago and encircled by a moat. It overlooks the Vecht River and is one of the oldest and best-preserved castles in the Netherlands, fully restored by the architect Pierre Cuypers.

How much time do I spend driving versus at the actual sites?

The drive from Amsterdam to Paleis Het Loo takes about 45 minutes, and you spend the bulk of the day at the two main palaces and castles, with a stroll through the country estates near Baarn in between. The return drive to Amsterdam closes the day.

Is this tour only for people interested in royal history?

The tour centers on palaces and castles, so it suits anyone drawn to historic architecture, baroque interiors, and countryside estates. The route also passes through quieter parts of the Netherlands outside the city.