Oud Poelgeest, Castle and botanical garden in Oegstgeest, Netherlands
Oud Poelgeest is a castle and botanical garden in Oegstgeest featuring a U-shaped structure surrounded by a moat on three sides. The building rises two floors and is topped with distinctive pear-shaped spires at the corners.
The original structure was built in 1668 and destroyed during the Spanish occupation in 1574 before being reconstructed. Physician Herman Boerhaave purchased the estate in 1724 and established it as the center of his botanical collections.
The property displays Dutch classical design with an octagonal tower and sandstone entrance frame added in the 1800s. These features shape how visitors experience the place as they move through the grounds.
The estate now operates as a conference center with hotel accommodations, allowing guests to experience the historical architecture directly. The surrounding gardens can be explored to gain a sense of the botanical heritage of the location.
A historical well dating to 1550 still stands in the surrounding woods and survived the Spanish destruction of the original castle. This relic provides insight into daily life before the estate was rebuilt.
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