Hofwijck

Hofwijck (or Vitaulium in Latin) is a mansion built for 17th-century politician Constantijn Huygens. Its address is 2 Westeinde, Voorburg, the Netherlands.cite book | last = Stenvert | first = Ronald | coauthors = Chris Kolman, Saskia van Ginkel-Meester, Elisabeth Stades-Vischer, Sabine Broekhoven | title = Monumenten in Nederland – Zuid-Holland | publisher = Waanders | date = 2004 | location = Zwolle | pages = 516–517 | isbn = 9040090343 ] cite book | last = Stöver | first = Jos | coauthors = Vincent Collette, Rianne van Hilten, Robert van Lit, Carla Oldenburger-Ebbers, Heimerick Tromp | title = Kastelen en buitenplaatsen in Zuid-Holland | publisher = Walburg Pers | date = 2000 | location = Zutphen | pages = 238–243 | isbn = 9057300788 ]

Construction

A couple of years after he became a widower, Huygens bought land in Voorburg. The building and originally much larger garden were designed by Huygens himself in cooperation with architect Jacob van Campen. The estate was created after the idea of "a harmonious piece of paradise on earth, with a garden in God’s image and likeness." Huygens was very much inspired by the works of classical Roman architect Vitruvius. Pieter Post was in charge of the actual building activities.

The building was erected in unplastered brick and is in the Classicist style. It stands in the centre of a square pond.

Hofwijck was inaugurated in 1642 in the company of friends and relatives.

After Constantijn's death

When Constantijn died, his son, scientist Christiaan Huygens, came to live there. In 1750 the last Huygens to live there sold it. Grossly neglected in later years, it was auctioned for demolition in 1849, which was avoided when it was acquired by politician Guillaume Groen van Prinsterer.

The "Hofwijck Association" acquired it circa 1913, when demolition loomed again. It is now a museum, which opened its door for the first time on June 12 1928.

Name

Huygens had Hofwijck built so he would have a place to escape the tensions that life as a politician brought with it, and its name reflects this: "hof" means "(royal) court" and "wijck" means "escape". However, it has more than one meaning, because "hof" can also mean "garden" and "wijck" can also mean "place". The Latin name has a double meaning too: Vitaulium means "garden of life" as well as "garden of Vitruvius".

Poem about Hofwijck

De groote webb is af; en ’t Hof genoegh beschreven: Eens moet het Hofwijck zijn. wie kent den draed van ’t leven, Hoe kort hij is, hoe taeij? de snaer die heldste luijdt Scheidt d’eerste menighmael van leven en van Luijt, Verkracht en over-reckt, of met der tijd versleten. [...] 'k Wil Hofwijck, als het is, 'k wil Hofwijck, als 't zal wezen, de vreemdeling doen zien, de Hollander doen lezen.

External links

* [http://www.hofwijck.nl Official site of museum]
* [http://www.let.leidenuniv.nl/dutch/huygens/Hofwijck.html Hofwijck, poem on]
* [http://www.hollandslicht.nl/www/html/eng/lokatie/hofwijk.htm Hofwijck, a documentary]
* [http://www.bestwebbuys.com/9057301881 Hofwijck, an explanation of the poem and the house (nl)]

ee also

* Constantijn Huygens
* Dutch Golden Age

References

(See in case of unclarity.)