Buitenplaats

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A buitenplaats (literally "outside place") was a summer residence for rich townspeople in the Netherlands. During the Dutch Golden Age of the 17th century, many traders and city administrators in Dutch towns became very wealthy. Many of them bought country estates, at first mainly to collect rents, however soon mansions started to be built there, which were used only during the summer. These buitenplaatsen could be found in picturesque regions which were easily accessible from the town, like near the river Vecht, river Amstel, in Kennemerland, river Vliet and in Wassenaar. Polders like the Watergraafsmeer and the Beemster were popular too. In the 19th century new regions came into fashion, such as the Utrechtse Heuvelrug and the area around Arnhem.

Buitenplaatsen are often mistaken for castles; however, a castle was usually founded and owned by nobles, while buitenplaatsen were exclusively owned by the bourgeoisie. They are also not the same as country houses, while they were only used during the summer.

The core of a buitenplaats was the mansion, a stately building in which the owner and his family were housed. Around it was a garden decorated with fountains and statues. Often there were also an orangerie with exotic plants, an aviary or a grotto with shells. The buitenplaats was often connected to a farm or a forest.

During the 19th century buitenplaatsen became outmoded, and often they were also too expensive to use exclusively in the summer. In some regions buitenplaatsen disappeared altogether, in other regions, such as Vecht and Kennemerland they still exist and can be seen on day trips from Amsterdam. Few are open to the public however, as many of them are still inhabited, though now usually year round.

[edit] Famous buitenplaatsen

• Beeckestijn in Velsen
• Clingendael in Wassenaar
• Frankendael in the Watergraafsmeer
• Goudestein in Maarssen
• Groeneveld in Baarn
• Hofwijck in Voorburg
• Trompenburg in 's-Graveland

[edit] See also

• Castle
• Country house
• Stately home
• Cottage

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