Huis Steenvoorde, Historic estate in Rijswijk, Netherlands
Huis Steenvoorde is an estate in Rijswijk made up of several connected buildings surrounded by open grounds. The main structures include residential and agricultural buildings that developed over centuries as the property expanded.
The property began as a structure built in 1289 for Gerard van Leyden, who served as secretary to Count Floris V. Over the following centuries, the buildings were rebuilt and adapted multiple times to reflect changing needs and styles.
The name comes from a stone ford that once crossed a stream at this location, following the medieval Dutch custom of naming estates after their landscape features. You can still sense this connection when walking through the grounds today.
Walking paths crisscross the grounds, connecting the different buildings and allowing you to explore the layout at your own pace. Good footwear is recommended, as the terrain and paths vary in condition across the property.
Archaeology work in 1964 uncovered the foundations of the medieval structure, providing hard evidence that the original castle really existed. These discoveries give visitors a tangible connection to the property's earliest days.
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