Huis Schoonheten, Raalte, Manor estate in Raalte, Netherlands.
Huis Schoonheten is a manor estate in Raalte composed of a main residence, two curved service buildings, and formal gardens encircled by a moat and agricultural lands. The entire property spans around 400 hectares and contains various functional structures from different periods.
The complex was built in the 17th century and received havezate status in 1633, which granted its noble owners political rights in Overijssel province. This recognition made it a center of local power and administration in the region.
The buildings display characteristic blue and white shutters that reflect the traditional colors of the Bentinck family, marking their properties across the region. This color scheme remains visible today and shapes how the entire complex appears to visitors.
The grounds spanning around 400 hectares are accessible to visitors, though the main house remains a private residence without public access. The best way to experience the property is by walking through the gardens and across the agricultural lands surrounding the estate.
The property includes a registered dovecote in its fields that historically housed exactly 100 pairs of doves used for food and as a source of fertilizer. This specialized structure reveals how estates once organized every aspect of food production on their land.
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