Mansion old Amelisweerd and new Amelisweerd and Rhijnauwen
The estates Amelisweerd and Rhijnauwen are near the city of Utrecht and have a lot to offer. The estates belong to the city of Utrecht and are a national monument.
Mansion Old Amelisweerd
The mansion Old Amelisweerd was built in 1770 on the former grounds of the historic homestead/knight’s court city/castle Amelisweerd. The Old Amelisweerd estate includes a coach house and a park, the former boathouse no longer exists. In the mansion Old Amelisweerd is Museum Old Amelisweerd | MOA is established. The museum is known for the beautiful well preserved original historical Japanese wallpaper. In the coach house is the very popular restaurant de Veldkeuken established. The word Veldkeuken can be translated as Field Kitchen. The restaurant is open all day for lunch and dinner, or just for a coffee or tea with some delicious healthy homemade pie. There is a lovely nice terrace next to the river Kromme Rijn. The restaurant serves dishes prepared with products from the historic vegetable garden. Next to the restaurant is the bakery Amelisweerd with daily fresh baked bread.
On the East side of the City of Utrecht, an hour’s walk from the city center, are two castles in the countryside. Castle “Oud Amelisweerd” is a museum and “Castle Rhijnauwen” is turned into a very nice low-budget hostel.
Around the castles is a lovely forest and you know what? Clarice van Houten grew up in this forest. Clarice is a famous Dutch actress who plays the role of Melisandre or also called “The red woman” in the popular tv-series Game of Thrones.
Mansion Oud Amelisweerd, together with the carriage house and the park, belongs to one of the most special Dutch national monuments. The original but vulnerable Chinese paper wallpaper from the 18th century is still present in the mansion.
The museum Old Amelisweerd is in the forest surrounding Amelisweerd and shows the collections: Country Seat Amelisweerd, and the Collection Historic Chinese wallpaper.
The history of Castle Amelisweerd goes way back to the year 1224 when the estate Amelisweerd (Ridderhofstad) was built. The castle is destroyed and rebuilt many times. In the middle ages, Knight Amelis divided the place for his three sons into the Old Amelisweerd en and New Amelisweerd.
National Monument: Walking from Utrecht to Castle Rhijnauwen and Castle Amelisweerd
The park Amelisweerd and Rhijnauwen are national monuments now. The domain is covered with a lovely forest. Ancient trees cover the shores of a clear river and many small waterways which smoothly curl through the landscape.
From 1808 till 1810 during the French occupation, King Lodewijk Napoleon owned the estate Amelisweerd, he had big plans for the property but they were never realized.
Address: Museum Amelisweerd, Koningslaan 3, Bunnik.
Make your trip more special and rent a canoe or electric boat at Rijnstroom Rentals. Cruise the river “Kromme Rijn” (Rhine) upstream through the forest Amelisweerd. Make a stop by the museum Amelisweerd and afterward, you sail to Teahouse Rhijnauwen.
Address: Rijnstroom boat rentals, Weg Naar Rhijnauwen 2, Utrecht
It is possible to walk from the Central Railway Station Utrecht to Rhijnauwen, just follow the Oude Gracht and then go east along the river “Kromme Rijn”. You walk along the bending river into the forest Amelisweerd. From the central station, Utrecht to Castle Rhijnauwen is about 7 kilometers. Renting a bicycle and touring the countryside is also a very good idea.
Restaurant Coffee-/Teahouse and Bakery De Veldkeuken |The Field kitchen
Halfway this walk you will pass Restaurant coffee/teahouse “de Veldkeuken”, which is a very trendy, nice, and popular place to go. You can have a nice coffee or some fresh ginger tea with a piece of cheesecake or carrot cake. And if you are in “De Veldkeuken”, translated as “The Field Kitchen” buy some bread, you won’t regret it. Bread baked like this that’s the way bread should taste. Your tongue doesn’t know what hit it.
Theehuis Rhijnauwen(Teahouse /Pancake restaurant) is near Castle Amelisweerd. If you visit Theehuis Rhijnauwen make sure you eat the specialty of the house, a Rhijnauwen wrap, it’s my favorite.
Address: Pancake Restaurant Rhijnauwen, Rhijnauwenselaan 16, Bunnik
Hostel hotel Rhijnauwen
→ Want to stay in the hostel? You can book it here: Stay Okay Hostel Utrecht
Walking from Utrecht to Castle Rhijnauwen and Castle Amelisweerd
The ancient Castle Rhijnauwen was built in the 12th century. If you have the time I suggest you spend at least one night in the Stayokay hostel Rhijnauwen. You will have a stately night’s rest in the forest. This hostel is uniquely placed in a forest area on the banks of the river Kromme Rijn, less than 5 km from the city of Utrecht. And above all, they charge you really nice prices.
Stayokay hostel Amelisweerd
Address: Reservation is necessary Hostel Stayokay Utrecht, Rhijnauwenselaan 14, Bunnik
→ Book your stay here: Stay Okay Hostel Utrecht
Fort Rhijnauwen
The fortress Fort Rhijnauwen is part of the Dutch water defense line. The fortress is located near Theehuis Rhijnauwen, on special days you can visit the fort.
