Nederland: Velsen-Zuid, Buitenplaats Velserbeek

Velserbeek is one of the many so called buitenplaatsen (summer residences) west of the city of Haarlem along the inner dunes. Wealthy merchants from Amsterdam built their mansionsin the 16th and 17th centuries.

Buitenplaats Velserbeek is dating back to jaar 1544. Originally it was a farmhouse, owned by the regent-family Ramp who lived in nearby Overveen and held governmental positions in Haarlem. In 1639, the homestead was sold to the wealthy Amsterdam merchant Jerimias van Keulen. Van Keulen was very wealthy and had a family of 15 children. He had the homestead extended into a country estate with the present mansion and ornamental gardens. The park was laid out in the French.

In the years that followed, Velserbeek had several different owners. From 1781 it was owned by the members of the Goll van Franckenstein family. Until 1832 Velserbeek remained in the possession of this family. The heirs sold the Velserbeek country house to the Van Tuyll van Serooskerken family. Baron Ernst van Tuyll almost immediately commissioned changes to the garden layout. The most important change is the creation of a deer park in front of the mansion, which nowadays still exists.

In 1919 Velserbeek was sold to two entrepreneurs, who want to convert the main building into a factory. Eventually, the municipality of Velsen buys the estate: the most beautiful part became a public park, while another part is destined for the construction of villas.

Since 1995, Buitenplaats Velserbeek has been owned by a law firm, which has restored the house.