Castle Gardens In Holland

Once you have the chance to visit the castles in Holland, the charm of those old times leaves a unique mark on your feelings. Their story is usually mixed with good times and bad times, ages of oppression and war that contrast drastically with the beauty displayed in the castle themselves as well as in the castle gardens.

However, if you want to feel like royalty, try a walk in those well kept gardens with their orderly symmetry in an attempt to breathe the old days’ air …

One of these castles is the Menkemaborg castle in Uithuizen. The charm of its flower gardens is given by their original design that dates back to the 17th century. The characteristic of this particular design is the perfect symmetry of the garden, we could say, mirror evenness of the flower patterns. We can also admire here a walled garden placed in front of the pergola and its beauty is enhanced by trellised arches. The vegetable garden is not missing either, placed so as the plants would see the first sun rays, you can find it in the east side of the castle. The spices, pot herbs and vegetables represent the specific of this garden. There is also what is called a natural "sundial garden". The orchard is also worth mentioning; while apple trees are spread around the orchard, the pear trees are charmingly arranged overhanging the pathway. If you are a rose lover, you’ll surely want to visit the garden in the summer because of its simply delightful rose tunnel in full bloom.

The final touch of the Groningen aristocracy at the time- 17th and 18th century- is made complete by the moat surrounding the castle and its gardens. The moat - a fortification usually filled with water - is the characteristic feature of the castles/mansions built in that historical period.

Another worth visiting palace is the Het Loo Palace located in Apeldoorn, in beautiful natural scenery represented by the serene atmosphere of the woods. In 1984 it became a museum and since it depicts the lives of King William III and Queen Mary II up to the reign of Queen Wilhelmina covering three centuries of history. Some of the exhibits shown in the Het Loo Palace are permanent yet there are others that are varying. However our main interest focuses here on the gardens of the palace.

The Dutch Baroque architecture of Het Loo is of course kept in its garden style as well. You’ll find here the symmetry of baroque so common to the leading trend promoters at the time namely Versailles (France). The mansion or as it is actually called the "Lust-hof" meaning "pleasure house, is not a castle per se. However it is placed between court and garden "entre cour et jardin " imitating Versailles with their Parisian fine houses charm.
The court is graveled and the iron grill that separates it from the road is traditionally decorated with box-bordered green and of course, the cross in the circle, so representative for the aristocracy of that time.

The "Great Garden" is however meant to be private as it lies behind the mansion. Called the "Versailles of Holland", (fact that is not necessarily correct because the garden of the Het Loo Palace has more differences than similarities when it comes to this comparison Het Loo- Versailles) this baroque garden displays in its unique fashion parterres with fountains, artful statues, vases, basins and cascades along beautiful pergolas. All these elements are displayed in perfect symmetry, communicating trough graveled walks so that the visitor may admire the garden in its full beauty.
Within the garden perimeters you will encounter the same 17th century baroque garden fashion with pergolas, artful statues and vases. This unique garden style in Europe is the expression of beauty as perceived back in those days but which bravely lives on to nowadays.

Seypesteyn Castle’s garden was created to fulfill the wish of Baron Van Seypesteyn who wanted to have a historical garden in a park. He’s done such a great job that this garden was listed as monument by the Dutch National Trust. His park and historical garden included the elements of the 16th century iron gates and also common for castle and aristocracy mansions, he included a maze, a canal and an orchard. The bridges over ponds and moats, the beauty of the Japanese trees like katsua along all the other floral beds, make this neo-renaissance park charming indeed. It’s construction was completed in 1927. It is officially recognized as a monument of garden history interest as well as a cultural, architectural and least but not the last, a national monument.

Relive the olden days in a castle garden or treat yourself tasting a royal experience in a palace garden!