TOP Oud-Zuilen/Slot Zuylen

Welcome to TOP Oud-Zuilen / Slot Zuylen Castle.

This is the ideal starting point for your visit to the Vecht region. At this tourist transition point, there are many different bicycle and walking routes that take you through the unprecedented diversity of a region with rich history and beautiful scenery.

In short, plenty to discover during a wonderful day out in the Gooi & Vecht region!

Home General information

The Vecht region was named after the rustic, winding river that runs through it, with 17th and 18th century estates on both banks. The surroundings offer an abundance of culture, history, scenic beauty and recreation. There are exceptional sights hidden away, waiting to be uncovered. For example: the forts of the New Holland Waterline, historic town centers and the windmills of the protected nature areas.

Short description day trips
A day trip from TOP Oud-Zuilen is a true expedition. How would you like a bicycle trip past castles, estates, gardens and teahouses as you follow the winding River Vecht? Or what about taking a route through the wetland area of the Noorderpark, along windmills and forts? For the walkers among you, we recommend to take the ‘Letters of Belle’ route that starts from here. Guided by a map of the route, you will walk to several historical sites along the River Vecht.

Visitor center Land van Zuylen
For information about the region – and perhaps a drink if you like – stop by the Visitor center Land van Zuylen.

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Home Parking

Directions from the nearest highway:

From the A2, take exit 6 towards Ring Utrecht-Noord/Maarssen. Here, from the N230, you take the exit for Maarssen-Dorp towards Oud-Zuilen.

From the A27 or A28, take exit 31towards Ring Utrecht-Noord/Maarssen. At the stoplight, follow the signs to Einthovendreef/N230 in the direction of Ring Utrecht-Noord. Go straight through 2 roundabouts. Take the exit for Maarssen-Dorp towards Oud-Zuilen.

Turn off the Sweserengseweg/ N404 in the direction of Oud-Zuilen. Go straight at the roundabout and turn left onto the Zuilenselaan. Take the second exit to the right (just past the drawbridge) onto the Dorpsstraat. Take the first left, you can park behind the restaurant at the “Slot” parking lot.

Parking
There is free parking at the parking lot next to the main entrance of the Zuylen Castle.There are about 60 parking spots (free). Besides this parking lot, there are extra parking spaces at the side of the road, the Zuylenselaan.
Using your navigation system, type in 'Dorpsstraat 10'. This will take you directly to the sign ‘Slot Zuylen’ for the castle.

GPS coordinates
52.12737, 5.07207

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Map your route via Google Maps
Home TOP by public transport

There are 2 possibilities:

Take bus 36 from Utrecht Central Station, in the direction of Maarssen or vice versa. Get off at the bus stop Oud-Zuilen. It’s a 5-minute walk from the bus stop: follow the signs to Oud-Zuilen (street: Zuilenselaan). From the drawbridge: follow the signs for Slot Zuylen (Zuylen Castle).

Or take bus 120 from Utrecht Centraal towards Amsterdam Station Bijlmer or vice versa. Get off at the bus stop Zuilenselaan. It’s a 15-minute walk from the bus stop: walk along the Zuilenselaan (on the bike path). Cross the street called Burgemeester Norbruislaan and follow this street along the Zuilenselaan. From the drawbridge: follow the signs for Slot Zuylen (Zuylen Castle).

Public transport information
Home E-bike charging point(s)

There are 2 e-bike charging points in the direct surroundings

1 charging point with 4 contact points at the Visitor center Land van Zuylen next to Zuylen Castle

1 charging point with 2 contact points at Restaurant Belle.

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More e-bike charging point in Gooi & Vecht
Home Sights to see

Visitor center Land van Zuylen
The Visitor center Land van Zuylen is situated in the former carriage house of the Zuylen Castle. Walk in for VVV tourist information, information about the region, walking and biking tours and more.

Zuylen Castle
The Zuylen Castle lies directly next to the TOP Oud-Zuilen. This medieval castle was rebuilt as an estate in the 18th century. Its most famous inhabitant was the writer, Belle van Zuylen. The Zuylen Castle has been open to the public as a museum for over 60 years. Learn more about the Zuylen Castle with a guided tour or take a stroll through the castle garden.

Open: From March 15 to May 15 and Sept 15 to Nov 15: guided tours on Saturday and Sunday.

From May 10 to Sept 15: guided tours also on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

From Nov 15 to March 15: open to groups by appointment only.

The castle gardens are wheelchair accessible. Unfortunately, the castle itself is not.

Address: Tournooiveld 1, 3611 AS Oud-Zuilen

Information: www.slotzuylen.nl or tel. 030-2440255

The village of Oud Zuilen
Oud-Zuilen is nestled in a magnificent spot along the River Vecht, with ample nature and culture just around the corner. Nowhere else will you experience life on an estate as vividly as you will here, among the beautiful antiques and paintings. As if the last inhabitant might return at any moment. Unique sights to see in the village include the former Reformed Church and the 18th-century Zuylenburg and Swaenenvecht mansions. In the center of town, you find a characteristic bridge crossing the River Vecht, the J.C. Plomp Bridge from 1934. On the other side of the bridge, you can walk into the park belonging to the former Groenhoven estate. Here there is a spot set up for picnics. On the Groeneweg is one of the oldest public cemeteries of the Netherlands. It is here that the Family Van Tuyll van Serooskerken is buried.

The Buitenwegse and Westbroekse Windmills
The two windmills in Oud-Zuilen stand close to each other, but each functions in its own polder. The windmill of the Buitenweg polder is the smallest mill of the province of Utrecht. It stands next to the Westbroekse Mill, which is the largest mill of the province. Both windmills pump the excess water out of the polders and into the nearby River Vecht.

Estates along the Vecht
The Vecht region is famous for its estates. Around 200 of these monumental summer homes stand on the banks of the River Vecht, built by Amsterdam merchants who earned their fortune in commerce in the 17th century. A handful of these estates are open to the public, including the Zuylen Castle in Oud-Zuilen and Goudestein en Doornburgh in Maarssen.

Information: www.utrechtsebuitenplaatsen.nl

Zuylenburgh Planetarium
In the Zuylenburgh estate, located on the Dorpsstraat, you find the Zuylenburgh Planetarium. Since 2009, there is a ceiling planetarium here. This mechanical moving scale model of the solar system is the second of its kind in the Netherlands. The planetarium is in a private home and so can be visited only by appointment.

Information: www.planetariumzuylenburgh.com

<p>Zuylen Castle- Arjan den Boer</p>

Zuylen Castle- Arjan den Boer

More sights to see in Gooi & Vecht
Home Restaurants in the area

There are several places where you can have a drink or bite to eat in the area:

Museum café Slot Zuylen
You are welcome in the visitor center and museum café in the restored Carriage House for fair trade coffee and tea, biological juices, lunch made with products from their garden, cakes and high tea.
Tournooiveld 1
3611 AS Oud-Zuilen
Tel.: 030 244 0255
Website Slot Zuylen

Restaurant Belle
Dorpsstraat 12
3611 AE Oud Zuilen
Tel.: 030 244 1790
Website Restaurant Belle

Brasserie La Saucière
Opbuurenpark
Daalseweg 79-81
3611 AA Oud-Zuilen
Tel.: 0346 55 45 33
Website Brasserie La Saucière

Restaurant Op Buuren
De Hoopkade 51
3604 DX Maarssen
Tel.: 0346 283 333
Website Restaurant Op Buuren

Brasserie Het Wachthuis
Fort aan de Klop
1e Polderweg 4
3563 MC Utrecht
Tel.: 030 266 05 55
Website Fort aan de Klop

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More restaurants in Gooi & Vecht
Home Places to stay

There are 3 B&B's in the direct surrounding of this TOP:

Logement Swaenenvecht
Dorpsstraat 16a
3611 AE Oud-Zuilen
Tel.: 06 - 38 10 29 22
Website Logement Swaenenvecht

B&B Klein Zuylenburg
Dorpsstraat 1
3611 AD Oud Zuilen
Tel.: 06-20738375
Website B&B Klein Zuylenburg

Bed & Breakfast Molens van Oud Zuylen
Oostwaard 4a
3611 AX Oud Zuilen
Tel.: 030-223 0703
Website Bed & Breakfast Molens van Oud Zuylen

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More places to stay in Gooi & Vecht
Home Biking route(s)

From TOP Oud-Zuilen you can choose to bike along many lovely bicycle routes that take you throughout the surrounding areas. Via the bicycle junction network, there are three nice routes set out for you:

- Estates and lakes route (36 km).
- Affluence of the southern Vecht lakes (42 km)
- Noorderpark route (32 km)

Click the button at the bottom of this page to find a detailed description for each of these routes, including a digital version so you can follow it on the map.

Bicycle junctions
Junction 45 (street: Oostwaard). The junction signpost stands just outside of the town of Oud-Zuilen on the bank of the River Vecht. On the other side of the road, you will find a lamppost with the signposts for the Junctions 46 and 47.

Bicycle routes are available for a small price at the Visitor Center Land van Zuylen.

<p>Junction 45</p>

Junction 45

Overview of bicycle routes
Home Walking route

The ‘Letters of Belle’ walking route
The walking route, 'Letters of Belle', is a very nice route in the area around Oud-Zuilen where there is much to discover. With a map of the route in hand, you walk along several historic sites along the River Vecht. On your way, you can sms with Belle who tells you which memories she has of the places marked with a signpost. Additionally, there is more historical information about some of the points along the route. The route map is available for a small price at the visitor center.

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More tourist information
Home Boating route(s)

One boating route starts off from nearby TOP Oud-Zuilen.

The nearest boat rental location is Boei 26, located on Straatweg 26 in Maarssen (2 km from TOP Oud-Zuilen).

Boat tour of South Vecht, Loosdrechtse Lakes and Kalverstraat (19 km)
Rent a boat and take a beautiful and diverse tour over the River Vecht along the many estates and through the inviting villages of Maarssen, Breukelen and Nieuwesluis, past the parks and castles and through ancient locks.

Starting point: Boei 26, Straatweg 26 in Maarssen

Restaurants on the way: Throughout the route, both along the Vecht and on the lakes, you can look out for a nice terrace at the water’s edge to moor your boat. It’s up to you whether you stay on board or wander into one of the many villages, to enjoy the scenery of monumental homes, various shops, restaurants and cafes or a fun gallery.

This, and another boat route, are both available as an audio tour. For more information on this, open the main menu and select ‘Audio tours’.

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This boating tour digital on map
Home Audio tours

Transform your visit to Oud Zuylen into a full multimedia experience. Download the free Gooi & Vecht audio tour app for smartphones. Listen to numerous surprising stories as you walk, bike or boat past! This audio tour app includes 3 routes through Oud Zuylen.

- Boat tour over the Vecht, northwards towards Oud Zuylen (also available in English)
- Boat tour over the Vecht and Loosdrechtse Lakes (only available in Dutch)
- Biking tour through 8 different landscapes (32 km) (only available in Dutch)

These audio tours are free to download in the Gooi & vecht audio tour app.

Click here for the Android version of the app.

Click here for the iOS (iPhone) version of the app.

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