“Vloek van Kennemerland” or blessing? That was the question surrounding Renstal Oud Woestduin’s original purpose. Today, we stand before the Renstal Oud Woestduin. It is a building with a story etched into its very bricks.
The Stal Oud Woestduin was built in 1905. Architect D.E.L. van den Arend designed it. It was part of the former Woestduin racetrack. This racetrack emerged in 1901 on the Woestduin estate. Landscape architect L.A. Springer designed the grounds. The Hotel en Terreinmaatschappij Woestduin managed it all. There was a grandstand with a café. A totalisator booth stood nearby. And of course, the Renstal Oud Woestduin sheltered the horses.
The seventeenth-century Woestduin country house became a hotel. However, the racetrack had a short life. In 1909, it closed. The municipality forbade races on Sundays and holidays. They aimed to curb excessive gambling. The racetrack became known as the “vloek van Kennemerland”. Woestduin was forced to hold races on Saturdays. Public interest waned and the racetrack failed. The last race was in 1910. The land was sold the following year.
Today, the former racetrack is visible within the Woestduin estate. Most buildings linked to the racetrack were destroyed during World War Two including the country house. Luckily, the Renstal Oud Woestduin survived. In 1980, the Renstal Oud Woestduin was renovated. It is south of the Manpadslaan. It still serves as a horse stable. During the renovation, living spaces were added in the attic. A lantern was placed on the roof. This wasn’t part of the original design.
The Stal Oud Woestduin has a unique layout. A square section juts out slightly in the middle. Rectangular wings extend north and south. The roofs are covered with red Dutch tiles. The central section has its own gable roof. The wooden lantern sits where the roof ridges meet. Wooden supports hold up the overhanging roof edges.
Red bricks form the walls. Above the base, the walls are whitewashed. The central section has stable doors on the ground floor. Each door has a fanlight. Above, there are paired sliding windows. The side wings each hold eight horse stalls. Horizontally divided wooden doors provide access to the stalls. A sliding hatch allows for ventilation. Originally, hatches near the roof gave access to the hayloft. The narrow end walls have paired sliding windows on the upper level.
The Renstal Oud Woestduin is a monument of general interest. It holds cultural and historical significance. It is the only remaining structure from the Woestduin racetrack era. It also has architectural value. It showcases the work of architect D.E.L. van den Arend. The Renstal Oud Woestduin stands as a reminder. It recalls a time when horse racing captivated the region.