Exploring Wassenaar with Nature, History, and Automobiles
Discovering The Clingendael & Oosterbeek Estates
We parked on the edge of the city and walked along the historic Leidsestraatweg toward the Oosterbeek and Clingendael estates. The history of Clingendael dates back to the 17th century (“valley between the clingen (dunes)”). In the 19th century, the park was redesigned in the English landscape style by landscape architect L.P. Zocher. The park is known for its ancient trees, winding ponds, and rich flora. Landgoed Oosterbeek, which adjoins Clingendael, also dates back to the 17th century. It features a blend of open meadows, water features, and dense woodlands. Together, the estates form a continuous green oasis on the border between Wassenaar and The Hague.
Clingendael's Japanese Garden, A Hidden Jewel
One of the absolute highlights of our walk was the Japanese Garden at Clingendael, featuring characteristic wooden bridges, moss carpets, and authentic stone lanterns. The garden was created around 1913 by Marguerite M. Baroness van Brienen (also known as Freule Daisy). She traveled to Japan and brought back authentic stone lanterns, bridges, a water basin, and a wooden pavilion. It is the oldest and largest Japanese garden in the Netherlands. Due to its high cultural and historical value, as well as the delicacy of its rare mosses, the garden is open for only a limited number of weeks each year.
Blooming Rhododendrons & Coffee in The Shade
On both estates, the rhododendrons were in full bloom, creating a vibrant burst of color that made the beautiful surroundings even more stunning to walk through. We also took the time to enjoy the nature around us, sitting on a bench in the shade with our thermos of coffee and freshly filled almond cookies. After our break, we headed back toward the car via the Leidsestraatweg.
An Unplanned Visit at The Louwman Museum
Along the way, we saw the striking Louwman Museum, designed by American architect Michael Graves. Since we had our Museum Cards with us, we decided to step inside for a quick peek. However, it became a much longer visit than we had initially planned, as the museum houses an incredible collection of classic automobiles. Two generations of the Louwman family have collected over 275 historic cars, ranging from the earliest pioneer vehicles and rare classics to iconic movie cars and Formula 1 racers. I especially loved the car painted by the Dutch artist Carel Appel!
