Historische aanleg, Rijksstraatweg bij 53

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

Description

HISTORIC GARDEN AND PARK LAYOUT belonging to the estate. The historic layout of VreedenHoff comprises, since its creation in the 17th century, an elongated plot between the Rijksstraatweg and the Amsterdamsrijnkanaal and an overtuin on the Vecht. The overtuin with towpath was in 1919 added to the adjacent estate Middenhoek, as was a strip with the coachhouse on the north side which in 1841 was incorporated into Middenhoek. The rectangular structure of the layout can be distinguished in a meadow section and a park section in early landscape style from ca.1800 (compare Gijsbert van Laar). The park section has traditionally been divided into an eastern and western section, with the boundary formed by a lateral dike in the north-south direction, the Stichtse wetering (see Nieuwe Kaart van Loenen, ca.1726). The eastern section concentrates around the house and features a layout in landscape style with formal and neo-formal elements. The neo-formal elements were introduced by landscape architect and firm Copijn in two phases, 1909 and 1937-1938. The western section has more the character of a park wood with an irregularly shaped pond with an island. The main axis from the northeast to the southwest determines the spatial composition of the estate and is formed by the following elements: the entrance gate, lawn, house, the T-shaped pond and the view over the landscape-style laid out pond. The axis was originally closed off by a colonnade, of which the foundation remains were excavated. From this colonnade views extended westward over the meadows. The area around the house is laid out in landscape style with paths, many solitary trees and the edged T-shaped pond, which dates originally from the formal layout and around 1800 was provided with a curved bank contour. Before the house lies a horseshoe-shaped sunken lawn with rose beds along the edges and in the middle an eighteenth-century sundial on a decorated blue stone plinth with a copper superstructure. The sundial was acquired ca.1980 and for this reason is of secondary importance for the protection. The horseshoe-shaped lawn was realized by Copijn in 1909 in place of a raised round grass field as seen in the lithograph by Lutgers. On either side of the middle section grass parterres with some solitary trees (Copper beech and lime trees with high set trunks). The left side is closed off by a planting strip by the firm Copijn from 1937 with shrubs and conifers. The house is enclosed by dense, green coulisses this in contrast to the free view over the lawn and the transparent character on either side thereof. Behind the house Copijn in 1909 created a rectangular grass field with rose beds in place of round borders. Across the grass field runs a sight line over the two pond areas to the meadows beyond. The view towards the park wood is marked by two weeping willows situated symmetrically along the main axis. Along the T-shaped pond stand two symmetrically planted beeches. On the south side of this pond is a relief section where Copijn planted round borders with ornamental shrubs and conifers. Through the difference in height and the various plantings a varied impression is created. On the north side of the layout is a border strip with various shrubs, along the south edge lies an oak avenue and a rhododendron strip behind which is the vegetable garden. The vegetable garden has been situated at this location since ca.1758. The park wood is traversed by a winding pattern of avenues around the irregularly shaped pond with island. Through the curved paths and the irregular shape the pond area suggests boundlessness of the park wood and moreover the layout offers surprising perspectives. On the island stand some solitary trees including three Copper beeches. A striking viewpoint along the pond is a Yew, which reinforces the depth effect. From the park wood, in particular from the east and south edges, various views extend over the meadows. To the north and south of the park wood runs a straight oak avenue. The northern avenue originally extended all the way to the Rijksstraatweg and was used to lead the cattle to the meadows.

Assessment

HISTORIC GARDEN AND PARK LAYOUT belonging to the estate of general importance: - on account of its age; - on account of the integrity of the early 19th-century park in landscape style whereby some elements from the 18th-century formal layout are retained such as the T-shaped pond; - on account of the added elements by landscape architect/firm Copijn from the beginning of the 20th century with planting of shrubs and conifers; - 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 estate.