World · Europe · 1 hr ago
Alexandra baroness Van Zuylen van Nijevelt van de Haar dies at 69
Alexandra baroness Van Zuylen van Nijevelt van de Haar has died at 69; no cause of death was given.
She was a former member of the supervisory board of Kasteel de Haar in Haarzuilens, the Netherlands.
The castle has closed its shutters as a sign of mourning.
Her family once owned the castle, but its high renovation costs made it impossible for them to preserve it, so it was placed in a foundation in 1996.
The family kept the right to spend time there, and relatives now use an apartment in an outbuilding.
The foundation now owns the castle, which is a popular tourist attraction; around 431,000 people visited the castle and grounds in 2023.
Alexandra handed responsibility for the castle to her sister Vanessa last year, and she will be buried in Paris.
Alexandra baroness Van Zuylen van Nijevelt van de Haar has died at age 69, RTV Utrecht reported.
Kasteel de Haar said it will keep its shutters closed as a sign of mourning.
She was a former member of the castle’s supervisory board and came from the aristocratic family that once owned it.
The cause of her death was not disclosed.
She is to be buried in Paris.
- Who
- Alexandra baroness Van Zuylen van Nijevelt van de Haar.
- What
- She died at age 69.
- When
- The report said she died that morning; it was published on October 23, 2026.
- Where
- Not stated.
- Why
- Not stated. No cause of death was disclosed.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Kasteel de Haar was placed in a foundation.
The surrounding estate was transferred to Natuurmonumenten, which contributed 20 million euros to the foundation for restoration.
About 431,000 people visited the castle and park.
Alexandra served on the castle’s supervisory board through this year.
She transferred responsibilities concerning the castle to her sister Vanessa.
RTV Utrecht reported that Alexandra had died that morning.
- Age at death
- 69
- Former role
- Member of Kasteel de Haar’s supervisory board through 2024
- Family
- Married to Iain Watson; had two daughters
- Burial
- Paris
- Castle visitors
- About 431,000 in 2023
3 sources
What people are saying
She was always warm and involved and was enormously grateful for the way the foundation treated its former property.