Castle Boat Tour

Some 10 kilometers southeast of Amsterdam stands Muiderslot, a well-preserved medieval castle, originally built in the 13th century by Floris V, count of Holland and Zeeland. An antique ship takes you across the inland sea formerly known as Zuiderzee. The silhouette of the castle looms on the distant shore. After landing, you circle the moat and cross the drawbridge into the peaceful castle courtyard where sparrows chirp and you can sit down for a cup of coffee. On top of the wall, you look out through the crenels onto the nearby town of Muiden. You visit the dungeon, the weapons hall and the kitchen, as well as the preserved work room of historian and writer P. C. Hooft of the Dutch Renaissance, famous for his references to the plums from the castle orchard (there is still a plum orchard on the castle grounds).

Tram line 26 takes us near to the ferry port from Central Station in about 20 minutes. In Spring and Summer, on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday a ferry runs from Amsterdam to Muiderslot, a unique opportunity to approach the castle by water. The ferry leaves at 10. 45 AM, the ride to Muiderslot takes about one hour, and we return in Amsterdam around 3. 30 PM. About 2. 5 hours is spent at the castle.