Historische aanleg, Maarsbergseweg bij 6

English translation

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Description

Description

HISTORIC GARDEN AND PARK LAYOUT. Jan Wilmink from Amsterdam purchased in 1917 an area with 'woodland, covered with coarse pines and other timber' east of the Maarsbergseweg from the Van Lynden van Sandenburg family. On this site he established a country estate designed by architect J.C. Wentinck (buildings) and landscape architect P.H. Wattez (layout). Execution was carried out by the Firma Van Veldhuysen in Doorn and by F.J. Moerkoert jr. from De Bilt (terrace and steps). The original site area, as still present and marked by four natural stone corner stones with the inscription 'Ruiterberg', can be distinguished into an outer and inner area. On the OUTER AREA the gate lodge, ice house and farmhouse are situated. The area is further laid out with woods, which function as backdrop walls of the layout around the main building. The elements important for the layout on this area are several parallel running avenues (from north to south: the drive, the sight line from the gate building in an eastward direction, the linden avenue), the cross of avenues on the parcel at the farmhouse, which is of subordinate importance for the protection, and a large vegetable and flower garden adjoining orchard to the northeast of the farmhouse. In the wood to the northeast of the house was the tennis court situated (currently overgrown in 1999). The INNER AREA comprises a diamond-shaped parcel with a central main axis of approximately 650 metres which is terminated on the north and south sides by a small hill (north the so-called 'Ruiterbergje' and south 'Spitsbergen') with between them a symmetrically laid out terrace layout that is substantially intact in structure and partly in detail, of which a detailed design from 1918 exists. The main axis, or axis of symmetry, as both the layout and the planting are mirrored about this axis, forms part of an extensive system of axes, as the Topographic Military Map of 1927-28 clearly shows. The area cleared from the wood has an enclosed and inward-looking character; the artificial composition of the layout contrasts particularly strikingly with the dense surrounding wood (backdrop walls). The layout is divided into five levels; the house is situated on the highest part, whereby the greatest perspectival effect is obtained. From the house views run over the sloping layout in a southward direction towards the surrounding landscape. The different levels are separated from one another by means of sloping embankments and emphasised by retaining walls and steps. The central area on the fourth level forms the focal point of the layout; this elongated parterre was originally executed most detailed (see aerial photographs from 1926 and 1936); to the north of the central area lies the house on the first and also highest level. The spatial division can be distinguished by the different levels, which were created using the natural height differences:

The first level is formed by the house with rear courtyard/entrance (north), sun terrace (south) and the northern point of the diamond structure; the forecourt lies on a transverse axis, which partly functions as drive and as sight line; the triangular point consists of grass/heather bordered by conifers, which are planted in an undulating line, and in the middle originally a broad path flanked by rhododendrons and acacias (now removed in 1999) ending at the highest point where an artificially raised small hill with a circular path at the base; sight line of the small hill to the house; the sun terrace is paved with flagstones of artificial stone and has an arch-shaped extension, bounded by retaining walls of natural stone blocks with at the two corners small steps of artificial stone. The second level consists of a narrow garden part in front and a rectangular garden part on both sides of the house; access to these and the corners are marked by clipped Yew (columnar), on the west and east sides there is a small step; the embankment to the third level is planted with shrubs. The house lies north of the transverse axis (part of the drive), which is terminated on the west side by the gate building (see component 1); from the gate building one could see the old manor house lying, from the house a view along the avenue in a westerly and easterly direction; the drive bends after several tens of metres to the left towards the forecourt. The third level is accessible via two sets of two steps of artificial stone situated on both sides of the central axis and consists of an elongated part divided into three garden sections with centrally in the middle section (grass) a sandstone plinth; the outer sections (rough grassland) have a mutually mirrored planting of a solitary blue cedar and various conifer groups; the embankment is planted with shrubs and conifers. From this terrace a central broad 'state staircase' of artificial stone leads to the fourth level formed by an elongated parterre with on the west side a view of the hunt lodge; the transverse axis continues on the east side in an avenue; along the edges of the parterre stand clipped Yew hedges; originally this hedge was executed most detailed with parterres de broderie, of which now Yew and Box in topiary remain; embankment with shrubs and conifers. Three sloping paths, the passage of which on the main axis was marked by a single oak, lead to the sloping fifth level formed by the southern point (sparse grassland) converging at the small hill as pendant of the northern part; the front part is open with only tree groups along the sides, the narrowly tapering part is provided on the main axis with a beech avenue; along the embankment runs a semi-paved path planted with rhododendrons, also on both sides of the point sandy paths and originally a curved path through fields.

Valuation

The HISTORIC GARDEN AND PARK LAYOUT belonging to the country estate De Ruiterberg is of general importance:

- on account of its age;

- as a relatively well-preserved and unique example of a layout (c.1918) from the oeuvre of landscape architect P.H. Wattez;

- on account of the monumental-symmetrical composition of the layout which characterises Wattez's work;

- on account of the presence of planting, among other things a collection of special conifers, at the time of the layout;

- on account of the material use of the structural components, namely artificial stone;

- on account of the landscape-visual value.