Remember Berkenrode. This name echoes through centuries. It whispers tales of castles, families and industries. Today, we stand on what were once the grounds of this fascinating estate.
Berkenrode began as a ‘Heerlijkheid’. This is a Dutch term for a domain or manor in North Holland. It sat southwest of Haarlem near the Leidsevaart. Though a castle existed, it was burned by the Spanish in 1572 during the siege of Haarlem.
The Van Berkenrode family preferred city life in Haarlem’s Grote Markt. The castle’s name first appeared in records from 1466. It took a rebuild in 1573. Then its chapel became a Catholic church for local residents.
In 1690, the last ‘heer’ or lord of Berkenrode passed away. Benjamin Pouille took over. He was an Amsterdam council member. He gave local Catholics land for a ‘schuilkerk’ or hidden church.
Pouille seemed more interested in the title. In 1694, the Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie named a ship after Berkenrode. Pouille never lived here. He sold the title to Mattheus Lestevenon.
Neglect led to another fire in 1747. Lestevenon rebuilt the castle. A grand fireworks display in 1748 celebrated young Prince Willem V’s visit with his mother. Jacob Bicker-Raye noted the event in his diary.
Jan Pieter van Wickevoort Crommelin succeeded Lestevenon. However, he demolished the rebuilt house in 1797.
Now stately houses stand on Berkenrode’s former grounds. The original castle moat is now parkland. It lies between the Leidsevaart and a building also called Berkenrode. This building sits on the Herenweg. A former bathhouse used as a horse stall still exists. It once served an oval swimming pool within the moat.
Today you can find three notable places. First, Berkenrode sits east of the old castle on Herenweg. Second, Oud Berkenrode once known as Westerduin, is north of the old castle on Herenweg. Finally, there is Berkenrode park. This is the original location of the castle and moat.
Notably, Berkenrode also lends its name to a Dutch ship. In 1740, King Desinganadu and Stein van Gollenesse met with the Berkenrode board of Dutch ship.
So, as you wander through this area remember the fires, rebuilds and notable figures. Berkenrode persists as a testament to time’s passage and change.