Muderslot Castle

Muiderslot's New Yorker cover!

Here's our ship - built in 1899 and still in service.

Scott, Honoree and Walt chat with our Captain

We booked a trip on the Amsterdam Tourist Ferry days ahead but despite drizzly cool weather, we had a great time. It took most of the day with an hour and a half cruise each way to the castle in Muiden, about 15 km southeast of Amsterdam. Muiderslot dates back to 1280.
It was built by Count Floris V when he gained command over an area that used to be part of the Sea of Utrecht, one of the most important trade towns of that age. One of the most famous owners of the castle was PC. Hooft, a 16th century poet and historian. For 40 years he spent his summers there and invited friends, scholars, poets and painters, known as the Muiderkring.
It is currently a national museum and restored to looking like the 17th century. The gardens and grounds are lovely as well.
Our ship was beautiful and dated to 1899 - wonderfully restored. The Captain and Bartender were fun and informative as were the staff at the castle. Great trip!

Walt takes a turn at the beer tap!

We passed these two wrecks on the way down the river to
the castle, seen in the distance.

This pristine beautiful sailing vessel was a gift from the
country to Princess Beatrix. 

Here's the entrance from the river.

You can see the moat which surrounds the castle and the
bridge entrance.

The interiors were furnished to look like they would have in
the 17th Century - surprisingly comfortable and even, cozy.

I thought this beautiful painting of two women kissing was
ahead of it's time but our guide explained that the woman
on the right was really a disguised man, from a folk tale.

Big fireplaces dominated each room and beautiful
paintings and rugs.

A view from the castle across the bridge towards the herb
gardens.

The gardens were very formal with fields and farms beyond in one direction and the small town and marina in the other.

Raptors were used for hunting by both
men and women in the 17th Century.
Honoree would have been great!

I'm including this stock photo so you can see the castle, gardens and the
river all together.