Loevestein Castle — Attraction in Zaltbommel

Two weekends ago I visited the Loevestein Castle, also known as Slot Loevestein, with local friends from Holland.

As we pulled into the parking area, you can see wild horses and other wildlife in the fields surrounding the castle. It is about a 300 meter walk from the parking area to reach the entrance to the castle and you can purchase tickets at the entrance for a self-tour or guided tour.

We chose the guided tour option which was an additional twenty euros or so, but definitely well worth it.

Before our guided tour, which left at a particular time, we toured the Loevestein Castle Museum. Admission is included in the price of the self-tour or guided tour.

We also sat in the café at Loevestein Castle which offered self-service coffee, drinks and snacks.

The guided tour was led by a tour guide and was conducted in Dutch as our group of approximately 20 people were primarily from Holland (however, inside there are placards in both English and Dutch if you take the self-tour).

The guided tour took about an hour, and our guide was extremely knowledgeable as we made approximately 15 or so stops inside and around the castle. At each stop, he would spend some time explaining the history behind the castle and a lot about the famous escape from the castle of political prisoner Hugo de Groot in a wooden book box.

After the tour, we explored the grounds which include the gunpowder storage area, the lookout points and an interactive shooting exercise at targets out in the field (no bullets it is all with lasers).

All in all, we spent about 2.5 hours at the castle and enjoyed walking the entire grounds 360 degrees...

16,50 euro's for a ticket is way overpriced, the castle itself is a gorgeous building, but i have better furniture myself.. The displays also look a bit cheap, and visually, beside the building itself, it is boring. During my visit there was a temporary art gallery witch blocks the view of every room, making it impossible to look at the actual building, without manoeuvring around the displays. (i came for the castle, not some art gallery)

Several companies are housed on the castle grounds., witch gave me more the feeling i was visiting some part of any old city, then an actual castle visit, it also can be pretty busy because of that, and it's modern/cheap looks are not fitting for the rest of the atmosphere it is trying to display. The garden/courtyard looks like any urban lawn, nothing special to see there either, no flowers, and poorly maintained, bricks and grass.

Ordered a piece of apple pie after my short visit since it is but a small castle, the pie was one of those frozen ones from a supermarket, soggy and tasteless, and was far from fresh or "home baked", overpriced as well for the quality it was, and with that, i was very disappointed to have payed for this.

After taking a look at their bed and breakfast department, witch is designed horribly ugly (i couldn't sleep there) i concluded that this is just a money sink/tourist trap, there really is close to nothing you get for your money, and if you add the money for your trip there, there is better things to spend it on. It's sad to see an important piece of history being milked for a...

Rijksmuseum Slot Loevestein is a majestic castle with deep historical roots, and visiting it feels like stepping into a rich tapestry of Dutch history. Situated at the confluence of rivers, the fortress sits in a landscape of water, moat, and ramparts that immediately tells you it has played many roles over the centuries: defence, prison, national heritage site. The museum exhibits are well organised, offering insight into the castle’s strategic importance, its role in trade and water management, the famous D’Artagnan escape story, and more. The rooms are well kept, the architecture beautiful — thick stone walls, towers, old drawbridges – all with interpretative panels and guided sections that enhance rather than overwhelm. Outside grounds and fortifications are equally impressive and well maintained. There are scenic walks along the walls and moats, great vantage points for photography, and spaces that invite you to linger. The visitor facilities — shop, café, rest areas — are good without feeling overcommercialised. Five stars for delivering a rich historical experience, combining strong interpretation, beautiful architecture, excellent grounds, and a visitor experience that respects the past while being accessible...