Duivenvoorde Castle reflected in the greenery by Hilda Weges

The Duivenvoorde estate and castle in Voorschoten is, as', a place where I like to take a moment to gather my thoughts before reaching for my camera. The castle is beautifully tucked away amongst ancient trees and is surrounded by water and greenery. From this spot, everything came together perfectly for me: the historic castle, the clear blue summer sky, the fresh greenery of the park and, above all, the reflection in the still water.

What particularly appeals to me in this photo is the natural framing. The leaves at the top and the trees on either side give the impression that you’re looking at the castle from within the park. They draw your gaze towards the stately building in the centre. The water then creates a second image. The façade, windows and turrets reappear in the pond, but in a softer, almost picturesque way. I find the contrast between the architecture and nature here particularly beautiful. Duivenvoorde is impressive, yet it does not dominate its surroundings. On the contrary, it seems to be an integral part of the landscape that has surrounded it for centuries.

With this photograph, I wanted not only to capture a Dutch castle, but above all the atmosphere of a summer’s day on a historic estate. A place where nature, water, architecture and history come together.

Hanging on the wall, this image brings colour and a sense of space to the interior. At the same time, the abundance of green and blue gives it a tranquil feel. For me, it’s a little window onto one of those special places that you can sometimes find surprisingly close to home.