Estates zone (heritage line)

Together, they tell the story of nobility and prosperous city dwellers who built a summer residence outside the city during the Golden Age.

In Zuid-Holland, you can find these places, among others, in the famous landgoederenzone (estates zone) between Hillegom and the Westland. Zuid-Holland still has some two hundred country estates and country houses. All of them are beautiful places that offer interesting windows on Dutch history.

These "buitenplaatsen" are scattered on a centuries-old dune ridge, which runs parallel along the coastline from Hillegom in the north to Westland in the south. Each estate or buitenplaats is unique: they are beautiful places full of stories that give character to the landscape.

Together, these country estates and country houses tell the story of nobility and prosperous city dwellers who often built a summer residence outside the city during the Golden Age.

When trade flourished in Holland's cities, it became possible for 'ordinary citizens' to invest in a country house. When looking for a location, smart use was made of the beach ridges and plains in the landscape. This was dry sandy soil that could be well built on.

Draught canals also determined the location of the estates. Via the water, residents could reach their houses by barge. After all, there were almost no roads yet.

This is part of the heritage lines