Discovering Gardens in the Netherlands

Transcription

1 American Horticultural Society Travel Study Program Discovering Gardens in the Netherlands June 9-21, 2015 With AHS Hosts Jane and George Diamantis and Tour Leader Susie Orso of Specialtours

2 Announcing an American Horticultural Society Travel Study Program American Horticultural Society 7931 East Boulevard Drive Alexandria, VA DISCOVERING GARDENS IN THE NETHERLANDS June 9-21, 2015 Explore the Great Gardens and Art of the Netherlands Visit the private garden of Piet Oudolf, one of the world s most influential and innovative garden designers, known for his work on the High Line in New York City and the Lurie Garden in Chicago s Millennium Park. See the world-famous flower auction at Aalsmeer, an amazing place full of marvelous colors and scents. Experience gardens that represent the best in Netherlands horticulture, and discover how they have served as inspiration for gardens around the world. This American Horticultural Society Travel Study Program has been designed with the connoisseur of garden travel in mind, offering an exceptional itinerary that includes many exclusive experiences and unique insights. Your participation benefits the work of the American Horticultural Society and furthers our vision of Making America a Nation of Gardeners, A Land of Gardens. Look inside for more details... Please refer to the program reservation form for pricing and instructions for reserving your place on this AHS Travel Study Program tour. For more information about the AHS Travel Study Program tours, contact Eleanor Nelson at enelson@ahs.org or (703) ext. 132.

3 Dear Friends, We invite you to explore the historic connections between art and gardens in the Netherlands on this very special Travel Study program that is being offered exclusively to American Horticultural Society members. Our journey across this country will take us not only to landmark destinations but also to a number of less visited sites that are full of interest and character. We begin in the picturesque region of Groningen, the Netherland s northernmost province. From there we travel to the country s largest province, Gelderland, before continuing to Amsterdam for a four-night stay. We will experience a tremendous variety of formal and informal gardens, many of which are private, while learning about the region s rich horticultural traditions. The accommodations for this program offer a unique blend of historic charm and contemporary comforts. The Hotel Prinsenhof, a stylish city center hotel with its own formal garden, will be our home base in Groningen. In Brummen, we will find ourselves in a grand country castle set on 250 bucolic acres including landscaped gardens, a golf course, and even a private forest. In Amsterdam, our nights will be spent at the grand hotel De L Europe, centrally located in the heart of this historic city on the banks of the Amstel river. Hosting this program for the American Horticultural Society will be AHS Board member Jane Diamantis and her husband, George. Both are enthusiastic supporters of the AHS and have previously traveled with us to Costa Rica, Sicily, France, Spain and New Zealand. Jane is a true garden aficionado, with a long standing love of gardens that began as a child growing up in England. She is an accomplished garden designer and owner of a landscape design company. George is an avid photographer who enjoys capturing amazing images of plants and gardens on their travels. Both Jane and George look forward to exploring the gardens of the Netherlands with you. We are fortunate to have Susie Orso of London-based Specialtours as our tour leader for this program. Susie has helped lead dozens of AHS Travel Study Programs over the years including several popular tours to the Netherlands. Drawing upon her extensive experience, Susie has crafted another outstanding itinerary for us and is excited about sharing this fascinating country and its gardens with you. It is through Susie s personal contacts that many of our visits have been made possible. Space on this program is limited, so early reservations are advised. We look forward to having you travel with us. Sincerely, Tom Underwood Executive Director

4 DISCOVERING GARDENS IN THE NETHERLANDS WITH AHS HOSTS JANE AND GEORGE DIAMANTIS AND TOUR LEADER SUSIE ORSO OF SPECIALTOURS Join AHS Hosts Jane and George Diamantis (left) and tour leader Susie Orso (right) for this once-in-a-lifetime garden travel experience. Itinerary Highlights TUESDAY, JUNE 9 Depart for Amsterdam Depart from the United States for Amsterdam (AMS-Schiphol). WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10 to Groningen (L, D) Arrive at Schiphol airport. After assembling by mid-morning and meeting Susie Orso, we board a coach for the Afsluitdijk, the 20-mile causeway and barrier dam constructed in 1932 as part of a project to convert a salt water inlet of the North Sea into an inland fresh water lake now known as the IJsselmeer. After lunch in the charming small Friesian town of Franeker at Restaurant de Stadsherberg, we will take a walk through the town, which dates back to around 800 AD. Then we continue to the university city and provincial capital of Northern Holland, Groningen, for a four-night stay at the Hotel Prinsenhof, which is a historic and garden experience in itself. Get to know your fellow travelers over drinks and dinner in the hotel. THURSDAY, JUNE 11 (B, L) This morning we explore Groningen with garden designer Linda Heikema, who will guide us through the historic center of the city. We will see the Martinikerk, the oldest church in Groningen dating from the middle ages, the main square and the hofjes. We then take a short ride to Midwolda, where we visit Hermans Dijkstra Oldambster farmhouse with its slingertuin. This is an excellent example of how prosperous landowners and farmers liked to show off their wealth in the mid-19th century by creating an English landscape garden with trees, shrubs, oval shaped flower beds and meandering paths in front of their farmhouses. After lunch, we continue to Oostwold and visit the private garden of Tuinfleur, belonging to Pieter and Rika van Delden. The series of ten garden rooms bordered with colorful plantings are a fine display of design and horticulture. We then return to the hotel for some time at leisure before a private, after-hours tour of the Groninger Museum with its eclectic collections and modern wing designed by architects including Alessandro Mendini and Philippe Starck. Dinner this evening is on your own. FRIDAY, JUNE 12 (B, L) We begin our day in nearby Zuidhorn and the private garden of Pabema. The owners have created a neo-classical style garden with ingenious lime tree hedges pruned in the shape of triangles. Apple and pear varieties dating from 1766 are found in the orchard. Continuing west, we drive to Leeuwarden for a walk in the center of this Friesian town to view scenic canals and historic buildings. The famous black and white Friesian cattle related to Holsteins in America that originated in this region have been immortalized by a larger-than-life bronze statue. We then continue to Beetsterzwaag for lunch and a private garden tour. After returning to our hotel in Groningen, dinner is on your own. SATURDAY, JUNE 13 (B, L, D) This morning we will head north to Leens, where we will visit the private gardens of Borg Verhildersum. The formal garden of the 14th century manor house was designed according to the golden ratio principle in the Renaissance and Baroque style. We will then visit the Petrus Church of Leens, dating back to the 12th century, which is famous for its Hinsz pipe organ. After lunch at Schathuys, we will visit the private garden of Els de Boer in nearby Warffum. Created over a period of 40 years, this garden contains themed borders, a knot garden, and topiary, including an amusing boxwood pig conference. Next we visit the castle and gardens at Kasteel Menkemaborg, where the formal garden surrounding the manor house has been recreated according to a 1705 design. Features include the sundial garden, which indicates 18th century time, and the kitchen garden with old world vegetables, a maze, and a pleasure garden. We then return to the hotel and dine together in a restaurant in Groningen. SUNDAY, JUNE 14 to Brummen (B, L, D) After checking out of our hotel, we head south to begin our travels through Gelderland. Our first stop is the gardens of the late Mien Ruys, one of the most important landscape architects of the 20th century, at Dedeemsvart for an early-opening private visit. Her life s work, including these gardens, has been inspirational for many landscape architects in the 20th and 21st centuries. After lunch in a local restaurant, we continue to Apeldoorn and the Palace of Het Loo. The formal parterre gardens, which date from the mid-17th century, have recently undergone a major restoration based on the original drawings. The elaborate box parterre with broderies, fountains, statuary, and symmetry make this a formal garden par excellence. We then continue to Brummen and check in at Kasteel Engelenburg for three nights. We will have dinner together in the hotel this evening. MONDAY, JUNE 15 (B, L, D) This morning we head east to Vorden for a guided visit of the gardens of Kasteel de Wiersse. Several distinct and charming gardens complement the moated manor house, such as an 18th century pleasure garden, a French style rose garden, an English sunken garden, and a woodland park. From here, we continue to Huis Bingerden for a light lunch in this delightful historic garden which has been in the van Weede family since In the afternoon, we will be treated to a special tour of the private

5 garden of Piet and Anja Oudolf near the village of Hummelo. An internationally renowned landscape architect, Piet Oudolf is especially known for his extensive use of ornamental grasses in his designs. Dinner tonight is at Restaurant de Gouden Leeuw in Bronkhorst. TUESDAY, JUNE 16 (B, D) We begin the day at De Hoge Veluwe National Park for a guided tour of the Kroller-Müller Museum and Sculpture Park. Superb works by van Gogh, Braque, Cézanne, Fantin-Latour, Gris, Klee, Leger, and Monet collected by Mrs. Kroller-Müller fill the gallery. The park contains a vast sculpture collection by artists, such as Rodin, Moore, Bourdelle, and Rosso, among the trees. We will enjoy lunch independently in the Museum café. After returning to the hotel to spend part of the afternoon at leisure, we leave for privately-owned Kasteel Middachten, where the garden is in a cruciform design with an open area opposite each façade of the moated castle and more intricate, enclosed gardens in the corners. A gala dinner hosted by Count Franz zu Ortenburg will conclude this special evening. WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17 to Amsterdam (B, L, D) This morning, we check out of our hotel and head toward Amsterdam. Along the way, we stop at Kasteel de Haar for a visit to the castle and gardens with landscape architect Robert Broekema as our guide. This medieval fortress has been restored to its former grandeur, complete with towers and ramparts, canals, gates, and drawbridges. It rises like a fairy tale castle from a surrounding park with impressive trees, old gardens, and ponds. Following lunch in a local restaurant, we continue to Amsterdam for a four-night stay at the hotel De L Europe. Dinner is in the Hoofdstad Brasserie at the hotel. THURSDAY, JUNE 18 (B, D) The Rijksmuseum, the national museum of the Netherlands which recently re-opened after restoration of the galleries, is our first stop today. Guided by local artist Robert Uterwijk, we will view many highlights of the permanent collection including works by Vermeer, Frans Hals, Cuyp, Jan Steen, and Rembrandt. Enjoy lunch on your own in downtown Amsterdam and spend the afternoon exploring the city at your leisure. You can visit the nearby Van Gogh Museum or walk in the Vondelpark, for example. This evening, we leave by coach for dinner at Restaurant de Kas, housed in a tall glass building which was created out of Amsterdam s former municipal nursery. Ronald Speck, followed by other private canal house gardens. Lunch and the afternoon are on your own today to explore the city by canal or do some last-minute shopping. In the evening, we will take a canal excursion on a vintage boat to the Museum Van Loon where we will be received by the curator for a private visit of the house and gardens followed by a farewell dinner in the elegant dining room. SUNDAY, JUNE 21 (B) Following breakfast at the hotel, transfers to the airport will be provided. While no revisions of this itinerary are anticipated, the AHS and its travel partners reserve the right to make changes, with or without notice, that may become necessary. FRIDAY, JUNE 19 (B, L) Those who wish may join an optional early morning tour to Aalsmeer to visit the world-famous flower auction. Experience the hustle and bustle of the auction floor, where beautiful flowers are traded daily from more than ten countries. We then pick up the remainder of the group to go to Leiden, birthplace of Rembrandt. Here we visit the Botanical Garden founded by the city s university in 1590 for the purpose of cultivating and studying plants from all over the world. We then continue to Wassenaar where we will have lunch in a private garden. From here we take a short ride to The Hague, seat of the Dutch parliament and government, to visit the compact, yet worldrenowned art collections of the Mauritshuis. Recently re-opened after a two-year restoration project including the addition of a new wing, this gallery is a showcase for paintings of the Golden Age by Vermeer, Frans Hals, Rembrandt, and Ruysdael. Upon returning to the hotel in Amsterdam, dinner is on your own. SATURDAY, JUNE 20 (B, D) On our last morning, we walk to the Museum Geelvinck Hinlopen Huis with garden designer Robert Broekema, a student of the late Mien Ruys. We will visit the double canal house garden with curator The North Sea Amsterdam The Hague NETHERLANDS BELGIUM Brummen Groningen GERMANY