Reflection in Elswout by Jeroen de Jongh Photography

About "Reflection in Elswout"

by Jeroen de Jongh Photography

About the artwork

At Elswout country estate you step back in time. From the early 17th century onwards, wealthy merchants from Amsterdam chose this place as their 'country estate'. Each owner left his own mark on the estate. Now, almost 400 years later, Elswout has become a green pearl where nature and culture come together.

Elswout was founded in the middle of the 17th century by Carel du Moulin, but the Amsterdammer Gabriel Marcelis completed the first construction of Elswout. Many great architects worked on the ever-changing architecture and landscape styles over the centuries. Pieter Post, for example, the architect of the Palace on the Dam, probably also contributed to the design. Over the years, the style of the buitenplaats changed along with the changing trends; from Dutch baroque gardens to landscape parks.

The oldest buildings at Elswout date from the 17th century, including the gatehouse and coach houses. The large house, the orangery and the model farm were designed in the 19th century by Constatijn Muysken, commissioned by the Borski family. The many small houses and bridges on this country estate also date from this period. The Borski family was the owner of Elswout for three generations. A special family member was Johanna Borski, the widow of Willem Borski II. She was one of the richest women of the 19th century and financed the Dutch Bank and the first railways of our country, among other things.

Elswout is home to many different species of plants and animals. Squirre