Imagine living in the wealthiest village in the Netherlands. That’s Aerdenhout. It is a place where stately homes meet serene landscapes.
Aerdenhout sits nestled in the dunes. It is between Haarlem and Zandvoort. Its name means “the other wood”. This distinguishes it from Haarlemmerhout south of Haarlem.
Aerdenhout mainly serves as a suburb. Wealthy residents commute to Haarlem and Amsterdam. They find solace in Aerdenhout’s peace. The village itself has few shops. Residents shop in nearby Heemstede.
Many stately homes define Aerdenhout. These villas boast unique styles from the 1920s and 1930s. One older building stands out. It is the “Haringbuys” pub on Zandvoorterweg. Fishermen once rested here. They walked from Zandvoort to Haarlem’s market. Opposite the pub is “Bosch en Landzigt”. It may be Aerdenhout’s oldest house. Its cellars are centuries old.
“Het Kareol” was a special villa. It had a high water tower visible from afar. Mr. Bunge, a German owner, built it in 1908. He loved Wagner’s music. Tiles depicted scenes from “Tristan and Isolde.” During World War II, it was a sanatorium. It suffered damage. Sadly, the house was demolished in the seventies. An apartment building now stands there. The park grounds remain.
New houses lack the charm of old Aerdenhout. They change the village character.
Aerdenhout has a mixed field hockey club named “Rood-Wit”. It’s located on Zwaluwenweg 11.
The Heemstede-Aerdenhout railway station opened in 1876. It closed in 1880. It reopened in 1928.
Aerdenhout has been home to notable people. Wubbo Ockels was the first Dutchman in space. Roel Pieper was an ex-vice president of Phillips Corp. Albert Heijn owned Ahold. Dirk van den Broek founded Samenwerkende Dirk van den Broek Bedrijven. The Bleekemolen family races cars. Martijn Bolkestein is a member of the House of Representatives.
Aerdenhout offers a unique blend of wealth and nature. Its history and notable residents add to its charm. It’s a place where tranquility meets ambition. A place to appreciate the finer things. A place called Aerdenhout.