Birthday Gift Lunch at Montfoort Castle Restaurant in the Netherlands

I am not really into parties and celebrations. I used to enjoy them before but now I tend to avoid them and only do it really for family and work. So birthdays are just ordinary days at our household, nothing more, nothing less. But for family's sake, we hold a birthday gathering. Visitation during birthdays is a special tradition in the Netherlands and a good excuse as well for family to get together. This year we still have to do for mine since we had to leave for Corfu the week of my birthday, and the week when we came back both the sister-in-law's families left for their summer holidays as well.

Lunch at Montfoort Castle Restaurant
Website: Kasteel Montfoort

So birthdays, what does it have to do with Montfoort?

Last year, the two sisters-in-law asked me what I want for my birthday. This question is always difficult for me as I feel I have everything I need and want. I have come to the point in life that I don’t really need much, except for traveling that I still hunker, although I might say not as crazy anymore as before. I can buy whatever I want but don’t always feel the need to. Have you ever felt the same way? It is such a liberating feeling to be freed from wants, from materialism.

When friends say—Let’s go shopping! I respond with disinterest. When I pass by a shopping window with a beautiful expensive item in it that every girl dreams of coveting, I learn to appreciate it without having the nagging feeling of wanting to own it even if I have the money to spend for it. The material thing does not have a hold on me anymore.

Is this perhaps what they call really growing up? Reaching maturity? Wisdom? Contentment? Peace within? Hmm.

Anyway, I digress again...

I told the sisters-in-law that I would like a lunch date for my birthday gift somewhere pretty nice. They respond by saying that I can freely pick any place I want for the lunch date. As we all had very busy lives it took us a several months to plan and schedule this birthday gift lunch.

Having said that I chose the Montfoort Castle Restaurant in Utrecht. The restaurant is inside the remaining part of the castle ruins that have since been restored and renovated into a restaurant. Montfoort is not very far from Utrecht Centre. Have a look at the map below:

This gives an idea how far Montfoort is from Amsterdam (near Nieuwegein). You can move the map with your mouse, zoom in and zoom out as well by clicking on the + and - signs on the lower right hand side.

The surviving gate tower of the castle.

During summer the terraces are open.

There is a French--Parisian Moulin Rouge flair to the interior of the Montfoort Castle Restaurant.

And the lunch arrived! The eldest sister-in-law ordered the smoked salmon open sandwich (Huisgerookte zalm met limoenmayonaise en kasteelbrood) while the younger sister-in-law and moi ordered the same thing, a warm vegan Montfoort open sandwich straight from the oven (Montfoorts broodje uit de oven - Le petit Doruvael, met rucola, walnoot en zwarte peper).

These are delicious. 4.2 stars out of 5 in my book.

Smoked salmon with egg open sandwich.

A vegan (Doruvael cheese, walnuts, rucola) open sandwich straight from the oven.

It was lovely to catch up with the sisters. We enjoyed this lunch very much as well as our royale surroundings. After lunch, the eldest sister-in-law asked the waiter if we can have a look at the rest of the castle restaurant. The waiter was more than happy to accompany us to an impromptu tour!

Helaas, there is nothing much really that is left of the castle except for the gateway and a part of the castle attached to it.

QUICK FACTS: Castle was established in 1168. Castle fell into ruins in 1672 when French troops seiged the town. Since then the castle has been a mayor's living quarters, a boarding school, and a special disciplinary school for girls before it became the restaurant of today.

Fine dining upstairs in the restaurant. Reserved for dinners and for private functions.

The port gateway of the castle and inner courtyard used as an outdoor terrace of the restaurant.

The castle gate and foot bridge... and the St. Janskerk (St. John's Church). Brickwork is a typical construction material in the Netherlands.

When we parted ways, I did a little walk in the centre before heading back to the car. Like most small town villages in the Netherlands, Montfoort has a pretty little centre, a main shopping street, a few historical buildings of interest, a canal of course and lovely residential houses.

I took of course some pictures =)

Beautiful Dutch inspired houses along the canal.

 The gateway and bridge of Montfoort which is connected to the city hall.

The main shopping street of Montfoort.

Montfoort City Hall.

I am sure they will ask me again what I want for a gift for this year (my birthday was last June by the way) and I still face the same difficult situation. I do not know. I do not need a lot. Or maybe, I will just ask again for another lunch...

Visit Period: December 2013
Destination: Montfoort (Utrecht), The Netherlands

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