Things to do
Discover all the highlights!
The Gele Loods Visitor Centre is your entry way to Naarden Vesting. Housed in a former Artillery Depot, the Centre offers lots of possibilities for touring and architectural exploration by foot, by bike and even by boat! Our friendly staff will be pleased to help you plan your visit, and point you in the right direction with all the tickets, maps and information you need.
To get the most out of your visit, spend some time at our complimentary exhibition Naarden and the Dutch Waterlines before you venture out onto the fortress walls.
Visitor Welcome Centre
Visitor centre
Your entry way into Naarden Vesting
Naarden and the Dutch Waterlines
Why is Naarden so heavily fortified? And what had water to do with the defence of the city? Before setting out, spend a little time at our exhibition Naarden and the Dutch Water Lines.
The exhibits and short film will help you appreciate this unique fortress and the defensive system that protected the Netherlands against invaders for over 400 years.
GIFT SHOP AND VISITOR CENTRE
Get the most out of your visit
Drop by the Gele Loods Visitor Centre to get more information about Naarden Vesting, purchase tickets to attractions and tours or pick up gifts and souvenirs from our shop.
Our friendly staff are always on-hand to make sure you get the most out of your visit.
Featured activities
Explore Naarden Vesting by foot, bike or boat
See Naarden at its most beautiful from the waterside
Naarden Vesting is even more beautiful from the water, so reserve your spot and let our friendly skipper guide bring the fortress to life as you sail around its unusual double moat. We sail out four times a day throughout the sailing season.
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Explore Naarden Vesting by bike
Hop onto the saddle and experience all Naarden has to offer in and outside the fortress walls by bike. Our expert visitor centre staff will help you find the perfect cycling tour to enjoy. and will even fit you up with rental (e)bikes and helmets.
During the winter months, bike rental is only available on request.
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A tour for every taste and pace
Walking is a great way to explore Naarden Vesting. Enlist a local expert guide to take you around all the sights, or go it alone with one our carefully curated self-guided walking tours. Whether you are interested in culture, history or nature, there is a route available for every taste.
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Sweeping 360° views
Climb the tower of the Great Church of Naarden with our local expert guide, and experience the best view over the Gooi countryside.
The tower is 45 meters high and you’ll have to scale 235 stairs, but once you get to the top, you’ll be granted the most magnificent view of Naarden and its star-shaped fortress.
Discover some of the hidden treasures of the historic Town Hall.
Don’t miss a visit to Naarden’s Town Hall, the oldest and probably the prettiest public building in the Gooi. Built in 1601 in Dutch Renaissance style, the beautiful crow-stepped gable and perfectly preserved interior are a must-see for visitors to Naarden.
Culture in Naarden
Delve into Naarden’s culture
Wander around the underground casemates
Curious what life in the fortified town was like? Explore the underground passages and casemates in the Dutch Fortress Museum on Bastion Turfpoort, and learn how the fortress functioned during times of war.
The beacon of Holland
With its oak barrel vaults painted with scenes from the Old and New Testaments, a visit to the Great Church of Naarden (Grote Kerk) is a must.
Whether you prefer to visit the church at your own pace, join a guided tour, or climb the tower with a local guide, the Gele Loods has a touring option to suit most requirements.
Teacher of Nations: Jan Amos Comenius
Jan Amos Comenius, the 17th-century Czech teacher, philosopher, theologian and diplomat is buried in the Waalse Kapel (Walloon Chapel) of the fortress’s former monastery. Learn all about the life and work of the educational reformer (he promoted the concepts of universal education for rich and poor) at the Comenius Museum next door.
Everything you wanted to know about weights and measures
Why is it that a kilogramme weighs the same everywhere in the world? And who decided what the weight of a kilogramme should be? Find the answers to these and many other questions in the Weegschaal Museum (Scales Museum).
The Scales Museum is located in the Spanish House where during the 80 years’ war exactly 450 years, Spanish troops rounded up and killed without pardon almost the entire population of Naarden.
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Cultural hotspot in the heart of the fortress
Podium deMess is a beautiful small theatre and wonderful cultural centre in the heart of Naarden Vesting. DeMess hosts a wide range of activities including theatre performances, lectures, live debates, cafes and photo exhibitions.
Tickets for performances can be booked through the DeMess website.
Tour arrangements
Enjoy a fully-catered day out in Naarden Vesting
A private full-day custom tour just for you and your group
If you’re looking to arrange a full day outing in Naarden Vesting with family, friends or colleagues, we’ve got you covered!
Tell us your interests and preferences and we will arrange a one-of-a-kind itinerary just for you and your group. This might be tickets for an exclusive private behind-the-scenes tour, high tea or afternoon drinks in one of old Naarden’s historic buildings, a concert in a beautiful old church or even hotel accommodation.