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Wikipedia / Heemstede

Heemstede () is a town and a municipality in the Western Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. In 2021, it had a population of 27,545. Located just south of the city of Haarlem on the border with South Holland, it is one of the richest municipalities of the Netherlands.

History

Heemstede formed around the Heemstede Castle that was built overlooking the Spaarne River around 1286. Before 1296, Floris V, Count of Holland, granted Heemstede as a fiefdom to Reinier of Holy. During the 14th century, a village formed near the castle, which was destroyed and rebuilt several times in this period. A resident of this castle was Adriaan Pauw, who bought it in 1620. In 1653, Bennebroek split off from Heemstede, becoming a separate fiefdom.

Growth was slow; in 1787 Heemstede counted 196 families. Even at that early date Heemstede had gained the reputation it has today, of being primarily a commuter town for the cities of Haarlem and Amsterdam. Wealthy city families left the cities in the summer, escaping "canal fever" which caused illness from the putrid canals. As a result, many estates were built in the 17th and 18th centuries, some of which (partially) remain today, such as Oud-Berkenroede, Berkenrode, Ipenrode, Huis te Manpad, Hartekamp, Bosbeek, Meer en Bosch, Meer en Berg, and Gliphoeve.

In 1857, the municipality Berkenrode was merged with Heemstede. In 1927, the northern portion of Heemstede, including a large part of the Haarlemmerhout forest, was added to the city of Haarlem.

Monuments and parks

  • Groenendaal Park: Designed by Jan Hope, it was formed by merging several country estates into one.

  • Vrijheidsbeeld (Freedom Statue), statue by Mari Andriessen to celebrate freedom and commemorate Heemstede victims of the Dutch Revolt. Located on the Vrijheidsdreef in Groenendaal park.

  • Heemstede Castle: The site of the former Heemstede castle.

  • Hartekamp: Heemstede summer home of George Clifford, who hired Carl Linnaeus to write his Hortus Cliffortianus, a detailed catalogue of the plant specimens in the herbarium and gardens of Hartecamp. George Clifford's house is closed to the public, but the surrounding gardens are used as a campus and are open to visitors.

  • Linnaeusbos (Linnaeus Forest): Originally a part of Hartekamp that was planted by George Clifford and documented by Linnaeus. In 2007, Heemstede celebrated Linnaeus's 300th birthday.

  • De Naald: The 'needle' is a monument placed by D.J. van Lennep to honour Witte van Haemstede, the saviour of Haarlem at a battle which on 26 April 1304 and to honor the wounded of another battle fought against the Spanish on 8 July 1573. Both battles supposedly took place right at the corner of David Jacob van Lennep's house Huis te Manpad, where the monument stands.

Transport

The town is served by Heemstede-Aerdenhout railway station, which lies on the Oude Lijn between Haarlem and Leiden.

Local government

The municipal council of Heemstede consists of 21 seats, which at the 2022 municipal election were divided as follows:

Notable residents

Sport

References