Wilhelmina Park

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

Introduction

The WILHELMINAPARK was laid out in 1898 on the instructions of the guardians of the Old Burger Weeshuis, founded in 1581, in Sneek. The park was situated on a piece of land on the north-west side of the town, between the Franekervaart, the Oude Dijk and the Bolswarderweg and was named after Queen Wilhelmina, who was inaugurated that year. The trapezoidal park was designed by landscape architect Gerrit Lambertus Vlaskamp (1834-1906) in Hardegarijp in the Landscape style. The three short sides (the west, north and east sides) of the trapezium lie against the Oude Dijk and are raised and enclosed by planting. The Franekervaart runs behind the east and north sides. The long side (south side) lies on the Bolswarderweg.

Description

The total area comprises 2.73 hectares. The core consists of an island in the middle, surrounded by a water feature, with protrusions in an easterly and westerly direction giving it an organic shape. Winding paths, ellipse and bean-shaped beds, smaller water features and two hills are laid out around the central water feature. The different elements are clearly visible thanks to the sight lines incorporated. The originally planted trees have been replaced over time by trees of the same type. Monumental trees include false acacias, Dutch lindens, two Japanese walnut trees, a swamp cypress, a winged walnut, two golden ashes, elms, a plane tree, a water cypress and a paper birch. In addition to trees, there are also ornamental shrubs, perennials, beds and containers with old agaves.

The entrance to the park is on the west side. To the left of the entrance stands the park keeper's house. A narrow path in a northerly direction, between the perennials, leads to a couple of storage rooms and to the east of these to the pond feature. Here, close together, are the aviary and the double bench for the elderly. To the east of the large pond stands the monument with memorial stone and linden tree, dedicated to Queen Wilhelmina. To the south of the monument stands in the middle of a bed a natural stone urn. Around these main elements are the winding paths and beds, which have been given an organic form. Here and there smaller water features have been laid out. The small cast iron bridges have been replaced over time by wooden ones.

Valuation

The Wilhelminapark in Sneek, laid out in 1898 in English Landscape style to the design of G.L. Vlaskamp is of general cultural-historical significance:

- as a special expression of a cultural development, particularly in relation to the rise of daytime recreation, sport and leisure in the second half of the nineteenth century and because of its significance for the social life of Sneek;

- because of the aesthetic qualities of the design;

- as an essential component of a larger whole that is of cultural-historical national importance;

- because of its location, linked to the development of the town and in relation to the function of the complex;

- because of the largely present integrity of the original design;

- in relation to the structural integrity of the urban environment;

- as a relatively rare example of a small-scale urban park in the province of Fryslân from the end of the nineteenth century.