The landscape park

A balloon trip, an escape room or off to the cinema: we’re always seeking variety, sensation and pleasure. And that was no different in the 19th century. Prince Frederick of the Netherlands had a stunning landscape park constructed on his estate in which there was always something to experience: a picturesque landscape, exotic tree species, winding lakes and surprising vistas. He proudly took his guests on a carriage tour through the park, treating them to one surprise after another.

Between 1838 and 1854, Prince Frederick purchased no less than nine estates in Wassenaar. This gave rise to a single large estate that was an impressive 886 hectares in size. His great wish was to connect these estates with each other and merge them into a single entity. The architect Hermann Wentzel mainly focused on the architectural elements. Landscape architects Johan David Zocher Jnr and Eduard Petzold were commissioned to improve the natural beauty of the estate. 

The English landscape garden style

Zocher and Petzold were inspired by the English landscape garden style. This style became fashionable at the end of the 18th century. The elite had had enough of the French garden in which everything was symmetrical and could be surveyed in a single glance. Also, the maintenance of the classically symmetrical garden was far more expensive than a landscape park. The change in taste was partly due to the artists who increasingly painted romantic, park-like landscapes. The elite wanted to experience this in real life! Therefore, instead of being tamed, nature was given free reign. The English garden is therefore full of groups of trees and beautiful shrubberies. During the design, maximum use was made of natural relief that afforded views of meadows and water bodies. Due to the variation, there was always something new to be seen. The parks ever-changing, exquisite colour compositions and perspectives put people in the middle of living, continuously evolving paintings. 

Magnificent views

At De Horsten Royal Estates, you can take a fabulous walk along an enormous lake. But no matter where you are, the construction of the islands and peninsulas is such that it is impossible for you to see the entire lake. This was a trick from Petzold, as a result of which the lake appears to be larger than it is, and a variety of views were created. This way, the entire lake makes a considerable impression. A winding path that gradually crept upwards along a gentle slope emerged at an attractive bench. From there, Prince Frederick’s guests had a perfect view of the gatekeeper’s cottage that peeked through the trees and always looked stunning. If only we could still enjoy this view today. And, in fact, we can! This splendid scene still exists! 

Lines of sight

Zocher Jnr. and Petzold also created many intriguing lines of sight. This sometimes required the felling of many trees. That can be clearly seen if you look from the hillock Seringenberg towards the south-east. A strip of wood is interrupted there as a result of which you have a beautiful view towards the hunting lodge Ter Horst. The meandering path between Raaphorst and Ter Horst also has such a line of sight. This path suddenly makes a turn of almost 90 degrees, as a result of which Prince Frederick’s guests suddenly saw the idyllic village of Voorschoten. The prince made a deep impression on his guests with these surprises.

Deceptive appearances

Prince Frederick’s parks had to give the impression that nature was completely untamed. However, nothing could be further from the truth. The park required a lot of management and, at times, the prince employed no less than 200 workers at once. For example, each year they cleared 35 kilometres of ditches so that the water could continue to flow well. The gardeners also kept the lines of sight open by pruning trees and shrubs. And they carefully maintained the paths so that the elite could enjoy the park without being hit in the face by branches or ending up ankle-deep in nettles.

The gardens of Ter Horst

Prince Frederick had his parks adapted to the English landscape style. Ter Horst is an exception. Here, since the last quarter of the 17th century, there has been a geometric French garden and that remained the case when the prince purchased this country home. Ter Horst lies on a small sand ridge and everything around it was simply too wet to construct an English garden. It provides a special piece of history because the Parks Route is the only location in the Netherlands where this combination of French and English gardens can be found. If you look over the privet hedge along the straight path towards Voorschoten, then you can still find the formal lane structures from the 17th century.

Access to the landscape

Prince Frederick did not allow just his guests to enjoy the landscape; ordinary people were also allowed to walk through it if he was not at home. This is typical of the prince’s sympathetic character because he was not obliged to allow this. Visitors could request a ticket in writing and buy it from his steward or lord chamberlain of the household. Not a lot has changed: today you still need to purchase an entry ticket to De Horsten. 

Discover it for yourself!

Have these stories made you curious about the beautiful, landscape parks of Prince Frederick? Then come and visit them! Enjoy the lovely, purple-flowering Seringenberg, the lakes and the meandering paths. Climb the various hillocks for a breath-taking view and, in particular, allow yourself to be surprised by all of the amazing things that De Horsten has to offer you.