Park Restauration in The Netherlands

1. Park restauration in The Netherlands: stand still or continue?
Examples:
ca. 1700 classicistic gardens (Palace Het Loo);
ca. 1800 landscape gardens (House Beeckestijn) and
ca. 1900 gardenesque and neo-baroque gardens (House Clingendael).
► Research before restauration:
A. Characteristics of situation, orientation, geomorphology, soil of
the place (genius of the place);
B. Characteristics and analysis of available concepts and documents
(in different layers / periods) and control with field stuies
(excavation);
C. Characteristics of historical plants and plantations (in different
layers / periods);
D. Restauration plan, based on these characteristics and advertising
to which garden period(s) one should emphasize and why.
E. Expert meeting and official approvals.
Restauration or reconstruction or renovation.

2. Classicistic gardens ca. 1700
What are the most important
characteristics / hard structures of
Dutch classicistic gardens?
We see a (long) vista with
crosspaths; sunken gardens with
terraces around, symmetry,
enclosed gardens as part of the
main garden, parterres (with
flowers), cabinets and mazes,
basins, fountains, trellice works,
colonnade. House and basins are
mostly layed out on the pricipal
axis.
Incidently water canals around,
high yew hedges.

3. Ca. 1700. Palace het Loo, Apeldoorn.
A. Characteristics of situation, orientation, geomorphology, soil
of the place (genius of the place).
l. map of 1976 before reconstruction; r. Google map 2010

4. B1. Characteristics and analysis of available concepts and
documents (in different layers / periods) and control with field
study
l. C. P. van Staden, ca. 1725; r. T. H. Reetz, 1706.

5. B2. Characteristics and analysis of available concepts and
documents(in different layers / periods) and control with field
study
l. concept P. W. Schonk,
1773;
r.a. painting by A. Schelfhout
1838;
r.b. situation P. Broekhoven
1812

6. C. Characteristics of historical plants and plantations (ca. 1700).
Botanical sources for 17th century garden plants:
l. the book Den Nederlandtsen hovenier by Jan van der Groen, 1669;
r. the manuscript Hortus Regius Honselaerdicensus by Stephan Cousijns, ca. 1690.

7. Garden plants from the Hortus Regius Honselaerdicensis,
ca. 1690.

8. Restauration results of the 20th and 21st century
(1980; 2008)

9. Problems? Old trees; box decease; hostalite (PVC) or corten steel.

10. Landscape gardens around
1800.
What are the most important
characteristics / hard structures of
Dutch landscape gardens?
We see a small scaled and enclosed
(later open) landscape with old
avenues or a fringed vista and
curved avenues; open meadows or
corn fields with a stroll around;
woods mostly planted with oak and
beech trees; paths alongside the
borders, with alternate views to the
surroundings; coppice forests;
sometimes a brook with waterfall;
rustic bridges and fences; garden
houses and follies.
Later: flowering shrubs or flower
beds around the house; a big pond
behind the house; artificial hills.

11. Ca. 1800. House Beeckestijn, Velsen
A. Characteristics of situation, orientation, geomorphology, soil of
the place (genius of the place).
l. map of 1952 before reconstruction r. Google map 2010

12. B. Characteristics and analysis of available concepts and
documents (in different layers / periods) and control with field
study.
L. J. G. Michael, 1772; m. Land register map 1811-1832 (coloured copy);
r. situation ca. 1850.

13. C. Characteristics of historical plants and plantations (in
different layers / periods).
l. J. C. Krauss. Afbeeldingen …Boomen en heesters…(to apply in landscape
gardens), 1802-1808; r. examples of 18th century American Cornus species
from this book.

14. Restauration results of the seventies and the nineties (20th cent.)

15. Gardenesque gardens (rich plant diversity) around 1900:
rose gardens, rock gardens, kitchen gardens, decorative flower
beds, neo-baroque gardens (Clingendael Park, Wassenaar),
Japanese gardens (Clingendael park, Wassenaar).
What are the characteristics / hard structures of Dutch gardenesque gardens?
We see geometrical decorative flowerbeds around the house, enclosed rose
gardens, bulb gardens, neo-baroque parterres, Japanese gardens, and
rock/wall gardens all over the place. Bridges, terraces and paviljons give an
overview.

16. Ca. 1900. ‘Dutch’ garden on Clingendael.
A. Characteristics of situation, orientation, geomorphology, soil
of the place (genius of the place).

17. B1. Characteristics and analysis of available concepts
and documents (in different layers / periods) and
control with field study.
l. land register map 1811-1832, with orchard;
r. reorganisation concept of C. E. A. Petzold, 1888 (partly completed)

18. Pictures of ‘Dutch’ garden on Clingendael.
l. air photograph, 1933;
r.a. concept for the bridge by Leonard Springer, ca. 1881;
r.b. oldest picture of the garden with Swiss house, 1918;
l.b. concept for look-out terrace by Leonard Springer, ca. 1881;

19. C. Characteristics of historical plants and plantations (ca. 1900).
Book and title page of A. J. van Laren Decoratieve Tuinbeplanting, 1913. The
garden plants in this book were applied in the new Dutch garden.

20. D. Restauration plan, based on these characteristics and
advertising to which garden period(s) one should emphasize
and why.

21. Restauration results

22. Drs Carla Oldenburger-Ebbers
www.historischetuinen.nl