De Zwaluwenberg, Estate in Hilversum, Netherlands
De Zwaluwenberg is an estate in Hilversum featuring a main villa with red brick facades, prominent bay windows, and multiple chimneys in the style of early English country house architecture. The property also includes a caretaker's house and expansive grounds with formal gardens and natural landscaping elements.
The estate was founded in the 19th century by Johannes Ruijs and acquired in 1912 by Ernest de Pesters, who commissioned the current buildings. Architects E. Newton and F. Kuipers designed both the main villa and the caretaker's house between 1914 and 1916.
The name comes from the swallows that once inhabited the surrounding area and nested in the gardens. The landscaping combines formal English patterns with natural elements, creating spaces that feel both intentionally designed and organically grown.
The estate has served as headquarters for the Inspector General of the Armed Forces since 1951 and is generally not open to the public. You should check in advance with local tourism information about any special events or occasions when visits might be possible.
The gardens were designed in the 1920s by Barend van den Steenhoven, a renowned landscape architect of that era. His design approach deliberately mixed formal designed areas with sections that appear completely natural and unmanaged.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
