Holiday apartment in Heemstede: historic park landscapes and nature experiences

Heemstede can be explored through natural sites, historic parks and cultural landmarks. Between the Spaarne, old park forests and well-maintained gardens are destinations that combine nature experiences, local history and cultural impressions.

Nature and paths

Park Meermond is designed as a nature playground and is suitable for quiet walks, experiencing nature and picnicking. The park includes a play forest and a sustainability trail with information boards about the environment and surroundings. Park Meermond is open daily from sunrise to sunset. The main entrance and car parks are located at Cruquiusweg 49; on foot or by bicycle, the park can be reached via the recreational path from Hageveld. Park Meermond is situated on the Spaarne behind the municipality’s maintenance yard and next to the meadows of Hageveld.

Groenendaal also combines woodland and historic park design. The area lies on original inland dune terrain and comprises varied woodland with open and enclosed areas, deciduous and coniferous trees, older woodland plots, specimen trees and groups of trees. Early park elements have been preserved, including the Lindenkom with an adjoining mound and sightlines, as well as the historic viewing mound on which the Belvedere was later built. Groenendaal is a national monument and a largely preserved extensive park forest dating from the second half of the 18th century, with monumental avenues and early landscape elements.

A walking route through Groenendaal is suitable for mobility aids and pushchairs. If obstacles prevent passage, an alternative is provided. The route partly runs through an area where dogs are not permitted. Access to and stays in Wandelbos Groenendaal are permitted between sunrise and sunset.

Park landscapes and garden history

The parkland west of Herenweg includes an open forecourt designed by L. Springer, with a surrounding access avenue. Behind the house is an area laid out in the landscape style by J. D. Zocher Sr.; a large round pond forms the connecting element.

Huis te Manpad is a historic country estate in Heemstede. The house was built between 1634 and 1640 on behalf of the Amsterdam merchant Cornelis Mattheuszn. Heuts. The park preserves formal elements from the 18th century, including a central sightline and parts of the avenue pattern. It also features a more than 200-metre-long serpentine wall with old varieties of fruit trees, as well as elements of 19th-century landscape design. The park around Huis te Manpad can be visited on request; the island with the privately occupied house is not accessible to the public.

The Manpadroute is a cycling route along the inland dune edge and passes Huis te Manpad, which was built in the 18th century.

Culture and local history

De Nachtegaal is a round grain mill of the stelling mill type. Its construction began in 1760 and was completed in 1761. The mill body was registered as a national monument on 21 April 2000. As a reminder of Heemstede’s earliest industrial activities, De Nachtegaal is of important industrial archaeological value and occupies a prominent position at the bridge over the Glipperzandvaart in the old district of De Glip.

The Oude Kerk was built in 1625 on the remains of a 14th-century chapel dedicated to Mary. It is still used for religious services and is also suitable for concerts and lectures.

The Kinderboerderij ’t Molentje is a visitor-oriented children’s farm with animals and activities. The visitor centre can be rented for creative workshops for small groups of no more than 12 people per morning or afternoon session. A market is also held in Heemstede every Wednesday.

Places of interest in the surrounding area

The Frans Hals Museum is located in the immediate vicinity of Heemstede; the Frans Hals monument is also situated there. The parks of Zwarte Veld, De Kennemerduinen and Schoterbos are located around Heemstede. The Kuiperijmuseum and Fort Spaarndam Bezuiden are also in the surrounding area. In the wider region around Heemstede is the Vogelpark Avifauna zoo.

For further local navigation, Heemstede is also available. Other places in the same higher-level area: Langedijk, Velsen, Oostzaan, Drechterland, Naarden, Zaanstad, Hilversum.

To the higher-level travel overview: North Holland.