Whispers of history surround Kocherbos. Imagine a hidden gem a tranquil woodland nestled in Amsterdam’s embrace. This isn’t just any park. Kocherbos is the last remnant of the 17th-century Hofrust estate one of ten grand estates that once graced Muiderberg.
Its history is rich and layered. For centuries Kocherbos was a private domain. The name itself holds a clue. It’s possibly derived from nearby lands known as ‘de Koggen’. The current spelling may reflect the ownership of E J Koch who died in 1854. Around the turn of the 19th to 20th century the Ter Beek family managed access. They ran the nearby Rechthuis.
The Kocherbos was privately owned for a long time until 1924. That year the Amsterdam Israelite church bought it. Their intention was to use the land for sand extraction to expand the adjacent Jewish cemetery. Thankfully that plan never materialized. It’s hard to imagine now. It would never be permitted today.
In 1924 a strip of land along the Googweg was sold. This allowed the Gooische Stoomtram company to construct a rail line. It became a terminal station. Further land sales in 1931 allowed the line to extend through the polder to Naarden. When the tram line closed in 1939 the land lay fallow until 1956/1957. It then housed temporary buildings for a school.
At Kocherbos’s heart lies a sports field. Legend says it replaced a pond. It served as a football field for Sportclub Muiderberg. Later the Mixed Hockeyclub Muiderberg used it as a hockey pitch. In 2017 the hockey club purchased the woodland from the Amsterdam Jewish community. They feared losing their field under new ownership. In June 2022 8.5 hectares were sold to the Goois Natuurreservaat GNR. The hockey field and access road were excluded. This secured the field’s future. The GNR’s decision was partly influenced by the merger of Muiden Muiderberg Naarden and Bussum into the municipality of Gooise Meren.
Kocherbos is part of the Dutch Nature Network NNN. It’s teeming with life. Think diverse bird species including owls and kingfishers. There are also tree martens squirrels and an abundance of plant life. Even during World War II locals used trees from Kocherbos for fuel. After the war Staatsbosbeheer replanted areas with non-native Douglas and Larch trees. Today Kocherbos features both deciduous and coniferous trees. The GNR recorded 42 monumental trees in 2022 including beeches and oaks.
The Kocherbos stands as a testament to resilience history and the importance of preserving nature’s tranquility in the heart of a bustling city. Enjoy this haven a peaceful sanctuary that continues to evolve and thrive.