Landgoed de Horsten, Royal estate near Wassenaar, Netherlands
Landgoed de Horsten is an estate near Wassenaar made up of three former properties that together cover about 400 hectares of gardens, forests, and meadows. The property features varied garden designs and a network of paths that lead visitors through different landscape zones.
A Dutch prince acquired the three estates in 1838, establishing what would become this royal property. The grounds were later redesigned by prominent landscape architects in the 19th century.
The name refers to a natural rise in the otherwise flat terrain, a feature that shaped the property's layout. Visitors still see today how landscape designers created contrasts between wooded groves and open meadows to guide how people experience the grounds.
Entry is free and visitors can access the grounds daily during opening hours. Maps and information are available at entry points to help navigate the large property without getting lost.
The Seringenberg section has a spiral path leading to a tea pavilion surrounded by purple lilac flowers planted in the late 1700s. This tucked-away area is easy to miss if you stick only to the main routes.
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