Whispers of history linger here at Landgoed ‘t Huis te Vogelenzang. This isn’t just a house. It’s a living testament to centuries of Dutch history.
Landgoed ‘t Huis te Vogelenzang boasts a past stretching back to the 11th century. A count’s house stood here then. Imagine the lives lived within its walls. Later Count Floris V built a hunting lodge called De Voghelsanck. The very name evokes images of noble pursuits.
But the original structure was mostly gone by the 17th century. Amsterdam goldsmith Cornelis Reijersz bought the grounds in 1610. He later sold it to Jacob Jacobsz. de Jongh. De Jongh built a new farmstead on what remained of the old castle a mere hill.
The estate passed through various hands. Bartolomeo Andrioli owned it at one point. His widow sold it in 1757 to Jan van Marselis sr. His son Jan van Marselis jr inherited the land in 1776. He began creating the magnificent park we partially see today. He even bought the neighboring Teylingerbosch. He then commissioned Johann Georg Michael to design a landscape garden. This garden linked both estates. The main house underwent renovations during the second half of the 18th century. The style became distinctly Dutch Classicism.
Willem Philip Barnaart purchased both estates in 1807. J D Zocher sr likely further modified the garden in the early 19th century. Landscape architect Hendrik Copijn later refined it again at the beginning of the 20th century.
The landgoed played a role in World War II. It became a V1 rocket launch site. The Germans blew up the launchpad in 1945. This caused significant damage to the house and surroundings.
In 1955 a campsite was created on the estate. Today the main house is inhabited by descendants of Willem Barnaart. The estate welcomes walkers.
Landgoed ‘t Huis te Vogelenzang stands as a Rijksmonument. The house the park outbuildings garden features and Teylingerbosch form a monumental complex. It’s a place where history whispers on the wind through the trees a place where past and present intertwine. This is Landgoed ‘t Huis te Vogelenzang. A true gem.