landgoed Berkenrode

Encircled by a tranquil moat, Landgoed Berkenrode whispers tales of resilience and transformation. Landgoed Berkenrode, once a grand castle, met a fiery end during the Spanish siege of Haarlem in 1572. Like a phoenix from the ashes, it was reborn, only to face another devastating fire in 1747. Yet, Landgoed Berkenrode persevered. It continued to serve as a separate municipality with its own chapel until 1857, when it became part of Heemstede. The castle grounds once housed a vibrant community. The chapel served as a Catholic church for the people of Berkenrode and Heemstede. This continued until the last heer van Berkenrode passed away in 1690. The new lord, Benjamin Pouille, granted land for a schuilkerk. Catholics continued to use the Protestant church of Heemstede as their burial ground. Interestingly, Pouille’s influence extended beyond Landgoed Berkenrode. As a member of the Amsterdam council, he had the honor of a Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie ship named after the estate in 1694. He never resided at Landgoed Berkenrode, valuing the title over the residence itself. He later sold the title to Mattheus Lestevenon, his successor on the Amsterdam council. Lestevenon, embracing his title “heer van Berkenrode,” oversaw the castle’s reconstruction after the 1747 fire. In 1748, the revitalized Landgoed Berkenrode hosted a spectacular fireworks display. This celebrated the one-month-old Prince Willem V’s first “state visit” with his mother, Princess Anne. This grand event was documented in Jacob Bicker-Raye’s diary and the Europische Mercurius journal. Sadly, the rebuilt castle was demolished in 1797 by Jan Pieter van Wickevoort Crommelin, Lestevenon’s successor. Today, the moat of the original castle has transformed into a serene park. It sits between the Leidsevaart and the current building known as Berkenrode on Heren weg. A former bathhouse, now a horse stall, stands as a reminder of an oval swimming pool that was once part of the moat. Though the original castle is gone, Landgoed Berkenrode continues to captivate with its enduring spirit.