Haamstede Castle - Haamstede

Slot Haamstede is not just a beautiful castle, but in addition to the castle forest bordering the castle, the Zeepeduinen nature reserve is also part of the estate. The Zeepeduinen have an enormous wealth of flora and fauna. In the varied dune area, you come across damp dune valleys, open sandy plains and enclosed areas with trees and bushes, and you hear the curlew and the woodlark singing. To keep the area partly open, a herd of around 100 Shetland ponies graze wild.

The castle forest is worth seeing because of the hyacinths, daffodils and snowdrops that start blooming in late winter, followed by the bright yellow spearweed in spring. The tawny owl and oriole breed here, as do some 30 more bird species. Sometimes you may see a roe deer or fallow deer shoot by.

The castle can be admired from the outside, inside it is only open during Heritage Days and activities.

The oldest part is a 13th-century defence tower (donjon), which survived a fire during a party at the castle in 1525. In the 16th century, the complex was restored and received two new towers.

Photo: ©Rob Doolaard, Natuurmonumenten