Admission ticket Loevestein Castle

Summer holiday full of adventure at Loevestein Castle
4 July to 30 August)

Ready for a day full of action, adventure and history? This summer, Loevestein Castle transforms into one big play fortress where young and old can explore for themselves.

There are plenty of activities during the summer holidays. For example, join the Knights' School and learn what it takes to become a real knight. Visit the medieval encampments and discover how people lived hundreds of years ago. Or take part in Live Stratego, test your skills at archery or learn to shoot like a soldier.

Throughout the castle and across the fortress ramparts, you will find games for all ages. Play centuries-old games such as knucklebones, spinning tops and goose board, or challenge each other to modern favourites such as Jenga and Connect Four. Decorate your own spinning top, discover how the Dutch Water Line worked or put on a wonderful puppet show in the castle. Experience more than 700 years of history through play!

Loevestein Castle is the perfect place for a family day out during the summer holidays. Outdoors, screen-free and packed with experiences. Head out, play together and turn history into an adventure you will not soon forget. View the full summer programme on the website!

Loevestein Castle

In the quintessentially Dutch river landscape, where the rivers Maas and Waal meet, knight Dirc Loef van Horne had his castle built in 1358. As part of the New Dutch Water Line, Loevestein has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2021. There is plenty for young & old to experience in the castle, the outer bailey and the soldiers' village. With its earthen ramparts, double moats, bombproof shelter and street of soldiers' cottages, the fortress still breathes the atmosphere of an eighteenth-century soldiers' village.

Loevestein Castle served solely a military purpose and was never inhabited by noble families. However, innkeepers, soldiers and civilians did live there. Visit the permanent exhibition ‘Excavated’, which shows traces of their lives. Sometimes very special, sometimes surprisingly ordinary. The exhibition ‘Excavated!’ is one of the few archaeological exhibitions in the Netherlands held at the site where the finds were discovered.

Visiting the museum with children

When you visit Loevestein Castle with children, they will not be bored for a moment. They can happily do their own thing; there is plenty to experience in the castle, the outer bailey and the soldiers' village. Learn about Hugo de Groot, the Middle Ages and the Dutch Water Line. Discover the most remarkable, interesting or surprising stories. Find out how people used to live here, who lived here and what took place within the fortress walls. Set off gunpowder in the powder tower, fire muskets, make the cannon roar and flood the fortress with the water game. There are regularly fun workshops and extra activities. 

Food and drinks 

During your visit, you are very welcome to enjoy a cup of coffee or tea with a treat, apple pie, a tasty sandwich, soup or an artisan ice cream at one of the catering venues. Within the castle walls, you will find the Tavern, a museum café with a lovely terrace beneath the trees. A little further on is the Remise, a rugged location in the fortress rampart that was built in 1883 as a concrete bombproof shelter. At the Remise, enjoy the spectacular view of the castle while the children play on the obstacle course outside.

Nature

Loevestein is situated in the floodplains of the Maas and Waal rivers, where nature can take its course. A beautiful river landscape has developed where herds of large grazing animals roam freely. There is a good chance you will encounter Konik horses or Red Geuzen cattle on your way to the Loevestein Castle National Museum!

Accessibility

Loevestein offers free parking for up to 230 cars. Consult Google Maps for the exact route from your departure point and current departure and travel times.

For more information, visit the Loevestein Castle website