Meer en Bosch

Clutching at straws, wouldn’t you say, to call this place ‘Paradise’? Meer en Bosch. A name whispering of lakes and woods, a stark contrast to the bustling city beyond its walls. Here, in Heemstede, the echoes of history linger. Originally, this land belonged to the De Cordes family from Antwerp. They christened it “Het Paradijs,” or Paradise. It sat nestled between the Voorweg and Achterweg, two paths marking its boundaries. A farmhouse expanded the estate in 1668. Records show a significant jump in the property’s value between 1685 and 1696. This suggests Nicolaes van der Hage constructed a new residence during that time, transforming Meer en Bosch. By 1699, it passed into the hands of Aernout van Lennep, who further embellished the grounds with a dome, a menagerie, and additional outbuildings. Imagine exotic creatures housed within those walls. A century later, around 1798, “Het Paradijs” stretched all the way to the Haarlemmermeer. Hendrik Gabriel Certon, the new owner, renamed it Meer en Bosch, a name that existed alongside the original until around 1810. Certon also extended the main house around 1800. Meer en Bosch continued to change hands. In 1833, Jonkheer Everard van Weede van Dijkveld, married to Cornelia Maria van Lennep, purchased the estate. They used Meer en Bosch as their summer retreat until 1853. Later, they rented it to Heemstede’s mayor, Mathijs Samuel Petrus Papst. He eventually bought Meer en Bosch in 1861. After Papst’s death, Meer en Bosch went to Samuel Tate Freeman, an English engineer involved in the Noordzeekanaal’s construction. During Freeman’s time, the estate comprised three distinct parts. A vegetable garden and outbuildings in the south. A park with a long, straight lane bisecting the land and the manor house at its heart. Lastly, meadows with a stable and coach house in the north. But Meer en Bosch’s story took another turn. In 1885, a Christian association dedicated to caring for people with epilepsy established a nursing home here. The main house became the director’s residence, while the gardener’s and coachman’s houses provided shelter for patients. As the number of patients grew, so too did the need for more space. Between 1895 and 1905, new buildings arose, bearing biblical names like Salem, Eben Haëzer, and Nieuw Zoar. A church, named Irene Chapel, was added in 1901. Eventually, Meer en Bosch gradually lost its original structure and appearance of a grand estate. Today, the main house stands as a national monument. Pavilion Salem, built in 1889, is designated as a municipal monument. The grounds of Meer en Bosch remain largely private, a sanctuary for those who reside within its walls.