De Boekhorst

De Boekhorst is a country estate in Lochem featuring a rectangular brick building with two stories, a gently sloping roof topped with flat Frisian tiles, and large six-pane windows along its facade. The grounds include an expansive landscaped park with mature trees and outbuildings, including a former coach house now converted into accommodation.

Winand Carel Hugo Staring, son of poet A.C.W. Staring, commissioned this estate in 1845 on a hundred-hectare property. Its construction reflected the 19th-century tradition of Dutch gentry establishing grand residences on their rural holdings.

The estate displays architectural elements spanning multiple eras, with Empire-style windows and a neo-Renaissance fireplace in the entrance hall reflecting different artistic tastes. These details help visitors understand how design preferences evolved across generations.

The estate now functions as a bed and breakfast, with the former coach house converted into two luxury apartments overlooking the garden landscape. Visitors should plan to explore the grounds on foot, as only certain areas are accessible to guests.

The property includes a cellar with an arched vaulted ceiling, a lesser-known architectural feature that adds character beneath the main building. The diverse woodland and mature trees across the grounds attract deer and various bird species that visitors may encounter while walking.