Slot Zeist hosts meetings for 15 to 150 people and conferences, dinners, parties and weddings for up to 450 guests with the whole building in use. The 17th-century castle stands in Zeist, next to Utrecht, in English gardens at the edge of the Utrechtse Heuvelrug. It is run by Fletcher Hotel Exploitaties. The garden adds space for several large tents and has an amphitheater, so indoor rooms and outdoor areas can be combined in one program.
Seminars and company events
The castle presents itself as a meeting, conference and event location for organizers who want more than a standard meeting room. Historic style rooms replace the usual office look, and the team adds modern equipment and service. For groups of 15 to 150 people the castle has a suitable room. The rooms can be arranged in different ways and combined, which makes gatherings of up to 450 people possible. The Slotzaal takes meetings of up to 150 people. For larger gatherings the site recommends a tent in the garden. Programs can mix a room indoors with a walking dinner or a concert outside. One example on the site is a classical concert in the attic followed by a walking dinner in the garden.
Weddings and receptions
Weddings can take place on one site for the whole day, from the ceremony to the cutting of the cake, the dinner and the party. The site says photographs inside the period rooms are possible only when the full wedding day is booked at the castle. Receptions and anniversaries use the same rooms. For every dinner or party there is a room of fitting size, from the style rooms for formal parties to the Slotgewelven, the vaulted cellars suited to intimate dinners. Rooms exist from 15 people upward.
Rooms and capacities
The room offer is varied. The Slotzaal holds up to 150 people for a meeting. Other rooms differ in size and style, and together they hold up to 450 guests. The site provides a room overview and a 360 degree tour, and the team invites organizers to visit and discuss their wishes before booking. A request form asks for the date, the number of guests and any wishes, and an online tool lets organizers build their own quote.
Catering
The kitchen team serves lunches, dinners and receptions in the castle. The Orangerie, the castle café, serves coffee with homemade pastry, lunch with soup, sandwiches or salad, and drinks with snacks between 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. A garden picnic can be reserved, except between November and March because of the weather.
History and setting
The castle was once the pleasure residence of Willem Adriaan, Count of Nassau-Odijk and grandson of Prince Maurits. Today it also shows changing art exhibitions, and guided tours are available. The Karperzaal presents the history of the castle all year. English gardens surround the building.
Getting there
Slot Zeist lies next to Utrecht and close to the A12 and A27 motorways. About 300 free parking places are a 5 minute walk from the castle. Public transport is also a 5 minute walk away. The Orangerie page of the site covers overnight options, opening hours and parking in more detail.
