Oldengaerde, Manor estate in Westerveld, Netherlands
Oldengaerde is a manor estate in the municipality of Westerveld in the Dutch province of Drenthe, listed as a protected national monument. The property includes formal gardens, garden structures, and wooded areas surrounding the central house.
The estate was first recorded in the early 15th century and took on its classical form during the mid-17th century. Around 1750, an ornate rococo gate was added, giving the main entrance the appearance it still has today.
Oldengaerde is one of seven surviving havezaten in Drenthe, a type of fortified noble residence that was once typical of this region. The layout of the grounds and the arrangement of the buildings still reflect how the local gentry organized their daily life and land.
Part of the house is used as a vacation rental and the rest remains with the owners, so visitor access is limited. Guided tours organized by the Het Drentse Landschap foundation are the best way to see the grounds and gardens properly.
The formal gardens are maintained by volunteer gardeners with expertise in historical garden design, not by a professional paid team. Their work keeps the gardens as a living space rather than a frozen monument.
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