Landfort House – a country estate on the border

The grounds of the Landfort estate consist of an island with a pleasure ground surrounding the manor house, and the kitchen garden adjoining the coach house. When Johann Albert Luyken acquired the property in 1823, he began a comprehensive renovation enlarging the house to its present form and having the grounds redesigned to reflect the taste of the day. Some design elements of this country estate bear the hallmarks of German influence. In particular the Ottoman-style dovecote, designed by the German architect Johann Theodor Übbing, is rarely seen in the Netherlands and is more likely to be found in Germany. The layout of the pleasure ground and kitchen garden was originally designed by the landscape architect Johan David Zocher jr., the 19th century advocate of English landscape architecture in the Netherlands.

When stichting Erfgoed Landfort (sEL) – the Landfort Heritage Foundation – acquired the property in 2017, the estate was in a terrible condition. Heavily damaged during World War II, it had remained derelict for a very long time. In 2017, sEL took on the task of breathing new life into the estate and embarked on an extensive restoration programme that was completed in 2022. The manor house has been restored to its former splendour of the early 19th century, while the layout of the pleasure ground and kitchen garden is again reflecting the original designs of Zocher jr..

Albeit on a small scale, the pleasure ground is the epitome of English landscape architecture where visitors can enjoy an idyllic walk along the meandering paths. Gently rolling lawns with beds of flowing plants lead to groves of trees intersected by a stream and pond. Two cast-iron bridges connect the island. On the basis of research on the estate’s botanical history, a picturesque ensemble of flowering plants, rose and flowerbeds as well as tub plants has been recreated.

Traditionally, a kitchen garden was part of the estate. In his designs, Zocher jr. arranged the kitchen garden around the existing elongated 18th century fishpond adjacent to the coach house. On one side it was bordered by an espalier wall to grow fruit trees on. This kitchen garden has now been restored largely in accordance with Zocher’s layout, and a beautiful garden has been created with lush flower and vegetable beds, a greenhouse and beehives producing honey.

The coach house, which was destroyed in 1945, has also been rebuilt. To bring back the extraordinary wealth of plants and trees Johann Albert brought to Landfort House, an orangery has been installed on the south side of the coach house overlooking the kitchen garden.

With the revitalisation of Landfort House, this country estate will eventually become the national centre of Dutch country house culture. sEL aims to share the vibrancy of this historic country estate with the wider public so that visitors can experience the beauty of this sustainably utilized environment. Ultimately, this may generate an increased appreciation of these historic country estates in general and boost the support for their conservation.

Address:
Landfortseweg 4A
7078 BT MEGCHELEN
The Netherlands

Telephone: +31 (0)315 377 777

E-Mail: info@erfgoedlandfort.nl

Website: www.erfgoedlandfort.nl

Owner/Management: stichting Erfgoed Landfort

Opening times:
Landfort House can only be visited as part of a guided tour. The Landfort Heritage Foundation has started to provide prebooked guided tours and catered arrangements for private groups, which can include the grounds. Additionally, public access is available every Friday during the Spring and Summer season when the manor house, pleasure ground and kitchen garden are open to visitors who (online and on the spot) can book a guided tour of the manor house and access to the gardens.
• From half March to half October:
Fridays and Saturdays: It is possible to tour the beautifully furnished mansion with a guide during an entry-level tour. These take place on Fridays at 10.30am, 11.30am, 1pm and 2pm and on Saturdays at 12pm, 1pm and 2pm. The guided tour on Saturdays at 2pm will be in German.

You can also visit the park and kitchen garden (without a guided tour) on Fridays from 10am to 4pm and on Saturdays from 12pm to 4pm.
Tickets can be prebooked online and purchased on the spot.

• All year round open for private group arrangements. See website for further details.
• The public park surrounding the estate is open to the public all year round.

Admission prices:
• € 16.00 for guided tours of the house (including free access to the pleasure ground and kitchen garden).
• € 6.00 for access to the estate’s park and kitchen garden only.

Guided tours:
The Manor House can be visited by guided tour only; see website for details.

Events: Garden Days, house concerts and plays. See website for details.

Customer services:
• Tea room / Restaurant on site: Four groups arrangements can be made for coffee, tea and soft drinks as well as cakes/pies, which are served in the glasshouse next to the manor house. Lunches are possible on request too.

• Room rental: Various rooms at the manor house and the main meeting room at the coach house can be booked for small scale corporate events.

• Shop: Books and bee honey harvested on the estate are sold at the ticket booth.

• WC: There is a block with facilities next to the Manor House.

• Parking: Public parking at the beginning of the driveway (800 meters) and limited parking at the Coach House for visitors who are less mobile and use a stroller or wheelchair.

• Accessibility: The driveway is unpaved but sealed with a sandy grit. All footpaths are wide and suitable to users of strollers and wheelchairs. The manor house has an elevator.

• Map of the site, additional information: Free information leaflets available at the ticket booth.

• Dogs: with the except of guide dogs, no dogs are allowed in the house and on the estate; only allowed in the surrounding public park when on a leash.

• Bikes: the estate can be easily reached via various bike paths and bicycles can be parked on site at the stands opposite the Coach House.