From Muiderslot to Kasteel de Haar: there are countless fairytale-like castles in the Netherlands, but there is only one that is built on a real hill.
About a 2.5-hour drive from Amsterdam lies the Valkenburg Castle Ruins, which proudly towers over the Limburg countryside and is known for its unique architecture.
But the real spectacle takes place underground: a centuries-old network of 5 kilometers of secret tunnels and caves, once used as the ultimate underground escape route.
The Netherlands’ only true hilltop castle
Towering high above the Limburg landscape lies a fortification unlike anything else in the Netherlands. While the Netherlands is known for its marshy moated castles, the country’s only true hilltop castle was built here in 1075.
Its strategic location on the cliff face made the castle a virtually impregnable fortress for centuries. Today, the remaining castle walls offer one of the most beautiful panoramic views of the Geul Valley and the historic town.
The Disaster Year of 1672 and William III
The castle had a turbulent history full of sieges, but the final curtain fell during the infamous “Year of Disaster,” 1672. During the Dutch War, the French troops of King Louis XIV captured the strategic fortress.
When State troops recaptured the site, Stadtholder William III made a drastic decision. To prevent the enemy from ever using the castle as a base again, he had the hilltop castle blown up. This immediately led to the creation of the iconic ruin that stands there today.
The Velvet Cave and 5 km of escape tunnels
What makes the ruins truly special lies hidden deep underground. Through medieval casemates, the castle grounds are directly connected to a system of over 5 kilometers of historic passageways and secret escape tunnels.
In this so-called Velvet Cave , the temperature remains a constant 12°C year-round. During a guided tour, you’ll walk past centuries-old traces of stone-breaking, hidden wall drawings, and the routes along which castle inhabitants vanished without a trace into the darkness during sieges.
