Hélin was killed in a car accident in 1912,[4] and Egmont worked as a diplomat; his eldest child was Parisian socialite Marie-Hélène de Rothschild.

Financed by Rothschild money and directed by Dutch architect Pierre Cuypers, work started in 1892 and took 20 years.

[5] Van Zuylen received recognition with appointments as an officer of the Legion of Honour, and as a knight of the Order of Leopold.

He was also the first president of the Association Internationale des Automobile Clubs Reconnus (AIACR, English: 'International Association of Recognized Automobile Clubs'), later known as the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), holding the position from 1904 until his retirement in 1931.

In June 1900, Van Zuylen took part in the four-in-hand mail coach event during the International Horse Show in Paris.