Life at a country estate

Do you ever dream of a second home where you can retreat every now and then? Unfortunately, for many of us this is out of reach, but in Prince Frederik’s day, it was perfectly normal for wealthy people to own multiple homes. These homes in the countryside, known as “country estates,” were an ideal place to escape the heat and hustle and bustle of the city.

A country estate is a luxurious vacation home surrounded by a large park. It consists of a main building with various outbuildings, including separate quarters for staff, stables, and a coach house. Sometimes a country estate also features a bathhouse, as well as vegetable gardens, orchards, water features, and walking trails. For Prince Frederik, Huize De Paauw, among other places, served as a country estate. There, he and his family sought relaxation, and he regularly hosted family members and distinguished guests.

A Farm as a Hobby

Did you know that farms were often part of an estate? There were also farms on Prince Frederik’s estates. The prince leased out the farms and thus generated income from them. Moreover, the cows and horses in the pastures gave the landscape an idyllic appearance. Furthermore, the farms produced all kinds of goods, such as cheese, milk, and meat. Prince Frederik did not need this income at all, but farms were an integral part of country life. In addition, the farm could be seen as an attractive feature of the landscape. It also epitomized the Dutch merchant spirit, as it beautifully combined pleasure and practicality.

A large group of staff

Prince Frederik and his guests wanted for nothing. A whole platoon of staff took care of everything for them. Ladies-in-waiting and chamberlains kept the owner and his guests company. The court marshal was in charge of the household; for Prince Frederik, that was P.H. Count van Limburg Stirum. Aides-de-camp delivered messages, the chefs prepared the meals, and a lady’s maid for the ladies and a valet for the gentlemen took care of their personal grooming (clothing and hairstyles). There were also chambermaids, laundresses, stablehands, coachmen, kitchen helpers, and gardeners. Behind the scenes, therefore, everyone worked hard, and there was absolutely no question of a vacation for them!

A clear hierarchy

How hard someone had to work depended largely on his or her rank. Ladies-in-waiting and pages were usually of noble birth and formed the entourage of the lord and lady of the house. Their days consisted mainly of endless waiting until they were called upon, and in the meantime they occupied themselves with drawing, playing chess, and embroidering. The cook, head gardener, chief coachman (head of the stables), and steward (head of the household) supervised the staff. The lower-ranking staff, therefore, mainly performed the heavy and physical labor.

Living at the Country Estate

Many members of the staff lived at the country estate, either permanently or temporarily. The lower-ranking staff slept in small rooms in the main house or in their homes in the village. The ladies-in-waiting and pages had their own quarters in the country house or lived partly in their own townhouses or country homes. The head gardener and the gatekeeper lived with their families in staff quarters. These were located on the estate and were quite attractive. One of the gatekeeper’s houses at De Paauw even consisted partly of a tea pavilion. 

When the cat's away…

Prince Frederik was not always at De Paauw. He lived part of the year in The Hague at his city palace on the Korte Voorhout, the Hotel de Prince Frederik. He also traveled to his Muskau estate, which is now located on the Polish-German border. Some of the staff traveled with him, but by no means all of them. At his various country estates, the prince employed gardeners and foresters who managed his properties when he was not there himself. These people ensured that the buildings and the park were well maintained.

In the background

The staff were expected to remain in the background. Huize De Paauw clearly illustrates these dynamics: the grand staircase was reserved exclusively for the owner and his guests, while the staff had their own staircase on the side of the building. As a result, most members of the staff had little to do with Prince Frederik. Some owners of country estates found workers in their parks so unsightly that they had to hide whenever the owners approached! Prince Frederik did not go that far. He was known as a man who cared deeply for his staff.

See for yourself!

Have these stories piqued your curiosity about Prince Frederik’s country estates? Then be sure to go check them out! De Paauw and many of the staff residences can still be admired from the outside. And now that it’s been renovated, De Paauw is once again open to the public for tours inside.