Historische aanleg, Dorpsweg bij 193

English translation

The text above is the record as published by the Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed, in Dutch. The English below is a machine translation made by TreeAlive, not by the Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed; it has not been checked by a person. Where the two differ, the original is the record. Report a translation error: privacy@treealive.com

Description

HISTORICAL GARDEN AND PARK LAYOUT and MOATED BURIAL MOUND with BURIAL VAULT and ACCESS GATE, belonging to the country estate Eyckenstein. The partly structurally and partly in detail preserved garden and park layout in landscape style can be distinguished in three parts. Firstly the outlying field on the far side of the Dorpsweg where the vegetable garden is also situated, secondly the layout by Springer in the immediate surroundings of the house and thirdly the adjoining parkland in early landscape style with a number of older avenues. The outlying field has a strong visual connection with the layout, in that a wide view over the meadow has been created from the house with the gardener's cottage as the vanishing point. The meadow (originally with groups of trees) is edged by planting, which on the west side falls within a curved line. Springer probably also concerned himself with this outer park. Around 1876 a diagonal avenue of 2.5 kilometres in length, the Gezichtslaan, was laid out. At the point where the avenue makes a bend around the meadow, a fine view over this meadow towards the house was created. The Gezichtslaan, planted with oaks, is now largely incorporated into the built-up area of Bilthoven. In the immediate surroundings of the house the layout in early landscape style from the beginning of the 19th century was further embellished by garden architect Springer in 1881-1883. The ground pattern of the layout at the house is determined by oval and elliptical forms, which are expressed in the path layout, the broad excavated pond area and the open lawn in the centre of the layout. The strongly winding path from the early landscape period on the west side of the layout was by Springer partly straightened into a more curved course, after which in the parkland the old course of the winding path was continued. Adjoining the section by Springer the parkland with a path system partly from the formal and partly from the early landscape period. The three-hundred-year-old beech wood has meanwhile been replaced by oaks. In the northern part a sunken circular basin is situated. In the layout parts of a rectangular avenue system in the longitudinal direction from the formal period are still visible. On the east side runs the Eyckensteinse laan or Eikensteeg. At the end of the 17th century the avenue was known as the Opstal and before that as 'Viaanse Steegje', named after the residents of Eyckenstein before 1650. Several oaks in avenue formation east of the house also date from this period (the oldest from 1656). On the west side a number of elements from the earliest period are important. Namely the zinc ditch with towpath, laid out after 1798. Ultimately a waterway with towpath of over three kilometres was created, which was used for the exploitation of the country estate. The waterway is indicated on the cadastral plan of around 1830. Furthermore the large avenue or drive, laid out in 1785 as part of a star wood and extended in a northerly direction in 1786. In 1881 the first section was incorporated into Springer's design. West of the zinc ditch an old avenue also runs, which was already indicated on a map in 1790, as part and extension of the star wood. The first section is, as mentioned, replaced by Springer with a winding path. The northern section is still virtually entirely present and planted with monumental beeches. From this avenue free views over the adjacent elongated grass strip (west) can be obtained.

From the Eikensteeg the burial vault can be reached, which has served as a family grave for the estate since 1811. The burial vault is covered by a sand mound and is surrounded by a dry moat. On the east side a path leads from the dry moat to an access gate, consisting of two gate piers with a double wrought-iron gate between them. The original entrance to the burial vault was probably on the east side, opposite the gate. The present entrance with two built-in retaining walls on the north side of the burial mound probably dates from the first half of the 20th century, when the burial vault was enlarged.

Valuation

HISTORICAL GARDEN AND PARK LAYOUT and MOATED BURIAL MOUND WITH BURIAL VAULT and ACCESS GATE, belonging to the country estate Eyckenstein of general importance:

- on account of the recognisable formal rectangular avenue system from the 17th/18th century;

- on account of the layout in early landscape style;

- on account of the layout in landscape style according to the design of Springer (1881-1883);

- as a representative and characteristic example of the work of garden architect Springer;

- on account of the significance of the layout for the history of garden and landscape architecture;

- on account of the functional-spatial coherence with the other components of the country estate.

- on account of the moated burial mound with burial vault and access gate, through which a connection can be made with the history of the family that had the park laid out.