Country House & Estate De Moeren - Klein Zundert

What is now a beautiful nature reserve was an important site for peat cutting in the 16th century. The marshy peat soil was dug up and processed into peat, the main fuel at the time. In 1545, Jan Snellen, then mayor of Breda, received the first peat concessions in the Beneden Moeren. This marked the start of a booming economic period for the area.

When peat cutting declined, the landscape changed and got a new purpose. In 1818, the current country house was built by Govert van der Hoeven, a descendant of Snellen. It was designed in a classicist style, with influences from both French and English architecture. Surrounded by woodland and farmland, the stately home soon became a centre of rural power and life.

The estate also includes special historic features, like the bell tower from 1663. This originally belonged to the court of Wernhout, once one of the highest legal bodies in the Southern Netherlands. You’ll also find two old farms here: ‘Out Huyse’ from 1821 and ‘De Kleine Anker’ from 1673, both with deep agricultural roots.

In 1900, part of the estate was sold to Henriette Roland Holst, a leading socialist poet and activist. Together with her husband, artist Richard Roland Holst, she set up a home and studio on the estate. In the Buisse Hoeve, a former manor room from 1809, they hosted key figures from the world of art, politics and literature. Well-known names like Herman Gorter, H P Berlage, Charley Toorop and Jan Veth came together here to talk about art, social justice and the future of the Netherlands.

Today, much of the land is managed by Natuurmonumenten and open to walkers and cyclists. In 2020, an old Flemish barn on the estate was given a new role as a guest studio for the Vincent van GoghHuis, where contemporary artists follow in the footsteps of those who came before them.