Visit Slot Zeist, follow the sculpture route, stroll through one of the parks, find exactly what you are looking for at one of the shops in the city centre or enjoy world-class food at one of the eateries. A visit to Zeist will complete your festival experience!
Ever since the first edition in 2016, Internationaal Lied Festival Zeist has been an annual guest at the Evangelical Brethren Church, ‘our concert hall’. In the Hernhutter House, you will discover the story of the Hernhutters, a story of faith and community. Today, in this house, which was once a community building for members of the Brotherhood, you get a glimpse into the history and life of the brothers and sisters in Zeist over the centuries.
Just a five-minute walk from the festival site, you will find Slot Zeist at the end of the tree-lined Nassau-Odijklaan. A stately building with over 300 years of history. It was built by Willem Adriaan, Count of Nassau-Odijk, the great-grandson of William of Orange. Nowadays, the castle is a popular venue for events and exhibitions.
The Netherlands‘ only pyramid is in Austerlitz. Less than a 15-minute drive from the centre of Zeist, you will find the Pyramid of Austerlitz at the highest point of the Utrecht Hill Ridge, with i-grec instead of ’i'. Because this extraordinary national monument was built in 1804 by Napoleonic soldiers. It has been a tourist attraction since the 19th century. At the visitor centre, you can learn more about the pyramid and the French era in which it was built.
Zeist is one of the municipalities on the Utrecht Hill Ridge that collectively form the Stichtse Lustwarande. With more than 100 country houses and estates, this zone stretches from De Bilt to Rhenen. Among others, the 1e and 2e Dorpsstraat - close to the festival site - are part of it. The Warande originated in the 18e century when many wealthy Dutchmen had country houses built on cheap land to escape the crowds and unhealthy environment of the city for a few months a year.
There is much to discover around the Slot. One of the highlights is the sculpture route connecting the Slot and the centre of Zeist. Walking from the Slot to the Walkartpark, you will see modern works of art adorning the route. The composition of the route changes every two years. So a walk along the sculptures remains surprising every time.
Zeist is located in the heart of the Utrechtse Heuvelrug. An ideal starting point for a quick breath of fresh air between festival activities in the Walkartpark or the Slottuin. Or to get a breath of fresh air with a nice walk on the winding paths through the woods.
Enjoy a nice lunch or dinner between the various activities of the festival. You will find a number of eateries within walking distance of the Evangelical Brother Church. If you book in advance, you are guaranteed a table.
