Drakestein Castle

Built between 1640–1643, Drakesteijn or Drakestein is a small castle in the hamlet of Lage Vuursche, in the municipality of Baarn. The owner is Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands. Beatrix bought the castle in 1959, when she was the Crown Princess, and took up residence in 1963. After her marriage in 1966 she continued to live there with her husband, Prince Claus and later their three sons as well. After Beatrix succeeded her mother Juliana as Queen of the Netherlands in 1980, the family moved to The Hague in 1981.