The Landscape Park
A hot-air balloon ride, an escape room, or a trip to the movies: we’re constantly looking for variety, excitement, and entertainment. It was no different in the nineteenth century. Prince Frederick of the Netherlands had a magnificent landscape park built on his estates where there was always something to experience: a picturesque landscape, unusual tree species, meandering ponds, and surprising vistas. He proudly drove his guests through the park in a carriage; the guests were taken from one surprise to the next.
Between 1838 and 1854, Prince Frederik purchased nine country estates in Wassenaar. This resulted in a single large estate covering no less than 886 hectares. It was his great wish to connect these estates and merge them into a single entity. As the architect, Hermann Wentzel focused primarily on the built elements. Landscape architects Johan David Zocher Jr. and Eduard Petzold were commissioned to enhance the natural beauty of the grounds.
The English Landscape Style
Zocher and Petzold adopted the English landscape style. This style became popular in the late 18th century. The elite had grown tired of the French garden, where everything was symmetrical and could be taken in at a glance. Moreover, maintaining a classical symmetrical garden was much more expensive than maintaining a landscape park. This shift in taste was partly driven by artists who were increasingly painting romantic, park-like landscapes. The elite wanted to experience this in real life! Nature was no longer to be tamed but had to be given space. The English garden is therefore full of groups of trees and beautiful plantings. The design made use of the natural topography as much as possible, and views of meadows and water were part of the experience. Thanks to this variety, there was always something new to see—like a living painting with beautiful color schemes and a sense of depth.
Beautiful views
At De Horsten, you can take a beautiful walk along a huge pond. But no matter where you walk, the layout of the (peninsular) islands means you can never see the entire pond at once. This was a trick devised by Petzold to make the pond appear larger and to create ever-changing vantage points. The whole scene made such a strong impression. A winding path that gradually climbed up a gentle slope led to a lovely bench. From there, Prince Frederik’s guests had a magnificent view of the gatekeeper’s house, which peeked out from among the trees and, of course, looked immaculate. Curious? This stunning view is still there today!
Sightlines
Zocher Jr. and Petzold also created many intriguing sightlines. To achieve this, quite a few trees were sometimes cut down. This is clearly visible when you look southeast from the Seringenberg. A strip of forest has been cleared there, offering a magnificent view toward the Ter Horst hunting lodge. The winding path between Raaphorst and Ter Horst also features such a sightline. This path suddenly takes a nearly 90-degree turn, allowing Prince Frederik’s guests to suddenly gaze upon the idyllic village of Voorschoten. The prince made a deep impression on his guests with these surprises.
Appearances can be deceiving
Prince Frederick’s parks were meant to give the impression that nature was left entirely to its own devices. But nothing could be further from the truth. The park required a great deal of maintenance, and at times the prince employed as many as 200 workers at once. For example, they dredged 35 kilometers of ditches every year to ensure that the water could continue to flow freely. The gardeners also kept the sightlines clear by pruning trees and shrubs. And they meticulously maintained the paths so that the elite could enjoy the park without getting branches in their faces or standing ankle-deep in nettles.
The Gardens of Ter Horst
Prince Frederik had his parks redesigned in the English landscape style. Ter Horst is the only exception. A geometric French garden has been located here since the last quarter of the 17th century, and it remained that way when the prince purchased this estate. Ter Horst is situated on a narrow sand ridge, and the surrounding area was simply too wet to lay out an English garden. This makes for a unique piece of history, as nowhere else in the Netherlands can this combination of a French and English garden be found. If you look across the boxwood hedge from the straight path along the Voorschoten section, you can still see the formal avenue structures from the 17th century.
Access to the Landscape
Prince Frederik not only allowed his guests to enjoy the scenery; ordinary people were also permitted to walk there when he was away. This is characteristic of the prince’s kind nature, as he was under no obligation to do so. Visitors could purchase a ticket in writing from his steward or court marshal. So not much has changed, because even today you need an admission ticket. You can order tickets online,
See for yourself!
Have these stories piqued your curiosity about Prince Frederik’s beautiful landscape park? Then be sure to go check it out! Enjoy the stunning purple splendor of the Seringenberg, the ponds, and the winding paths. Climb the various hills for a breathtaking view, and above all, let yourself be surprised by all the beauty that De Horsten has to offer.