Questions linger in the whispers of the wind as we approach Duinlust. What secrets does this estate hold?
Duinlust stands as a testament to changing times. It is a place where nature and history intertwine. Today we will explore its past and present.
In 1783, Jan Gijsen Middelkoop leased a plot of land here. He built a house, cultivated rye, and planted an orchard. After 1810, Jonkheer Jan Willem Druyvesteyn acquired the property. He named it ‘Duinlust’ and commissioned Thomas Atkinson to design a white Empire-style house. An orangerie was added.
The estate changed hands in 1828. Johanna Jacoba van de Velde, Willem Borski’s widow, became the owner. She also owned Elswout, another estate across Duinlustweg. After her death, it passed to her son Willem Borski. Willem was a well-known Amsterdam banker. Duinlust became the summer residence for his eldest daughter, Johanna Jacoba.
Johanna Jacoba inherited the estate in 1881. She commissioned Constantijn Muysken to build a new house in Neo-Renaissance style. The house included grand and small salons. It also had a library, a hunting room, a billiard room, a dining room and a dessert room. A hydraulic lift was even installed.
In 1882, the park’s design was entrusted to C.E.A. Petzold. He was a German landscape architect. A walled kitchen garden was created. It had grape, peach, and fern greenhouses. Cold frames, hotbeds, flower greenhouses, fig trees and a cherry orchard were added. A small roller skating rink and bowling alley provided entertainment.
During World War II, Dutch troops were stationed here. Later, Germans occupied Duinlust. After them came the military police. In 1945, Canadian liberators and the Dutch Forces used the house. From 1948 to 2001, it housed the Central Institute for Training Sports Coaches. A sports hall and a classroom building were added in the 1960s.
After the CIOS departed, Duinlust stood empty. Plans arose for apartments and villas on the grounds. The modern buildings would be demolished. The monuments would be renovated. However, in 2019, the municipality of Bloemendaal denied permission for these plans. The house became a venue for meetings and events.
Duinlust is now a Rijksmonument, a national monument. This designation protects several features. These include the entrance, the gatekeeper’s house, the main building, and the orangerie. The folly, the garden house, the garden wall and the ice cellar are also protected. The park’s layout also falls under this protection. Staatsbosbeheer manages the park. It connects to their Middenduin nature area. A project developer owns the main house.
As we conclude our visit to Duinlust, reflect on its journey. From farmland to grand estate and through periods of conflict, it has adapted. Today, it remains a landmark. It is a blend of architectural elegance and natural beauty. Duinlust invites us to remember its past. It also encourages us to cherish its present.