Muiderslot, the Castle of Amsterdam

Muiderslot is the fairy-tale castle a child imagines: four red-brick towers, a moat and a drawbridge, at the point where the river Vecht meets the IJmeer. Its origins go back to 1285, and in the 17th century its halls hosted the so-called Muiderkring, the circle of poets, musicians and scholars of the day. Today it is part of the Rijksmuseum and you can visit all of it: the furnished rooms, the towers, from which you used to be able to see the sea, the armoury and the gardens, with a vegetable and herb garden planted with old varieties.

Tickets and opening hours

From April to October it is open daily from 10:00 to 17:00, and from November to March Tuesday to Sunday, with the same hours; the ticket office closes at 16:30. It costs €19.50 for adults and €7.50 for ages 4 to 11; under-4s go in free, as do holders of the Museumkaart and the I amsterdam City Card. The free English audio guide is designed for children to follow. Tickets can be bought on the website or at the ticket office; in the holidays and for special events it is best to buy them in advance.

Getting there

By train from Amsterdam to Weesp and then bus 110 to Muiden Centrum, followed by a ten-minute walk. By car, take the A1, exit 3; central Muiden has few parking spaces and they are paid, so park free at P2 (Mariahoeveweg), ten minutes' walk away.