# Heemstede

Heemstede (Dutch pronunciation: ) is a town and a municipality in the Western Netherlands, in the province of North Holland. In 2021, it had a population of 27,545. Located just south of the city of Haarlem on the border with South Holland, it is one of the richest municipalities of the Netherlands.

## History

Heemstede formed around the Heemstede Castle that was built overlooking the Spaarne River around 1286. Before 1296, Floris V, Count of Holland, granted Heemstede as a fiefdom to Reinier of Holy. During the 14th century, a village formed near the castle, which was destroyed and rebuilt several times in this period. A resident of this castle was Adriaan Pauw, who bought it in 1620. In 1653, Bennebroek split off from Heemstede, becoming a separate fiefdom.
Growth was slow; in 1787 Heemstede counted 196 families. Even at that early date Heemstede had gained the reputation it has today, of being primarily a commuter town for the cities of Haarlem and Amsterdam. Wealthy city families left the cities in the summer, escaping "canal fever" which caused illness from the putrid canals. As a result, many estates were built in the 17th and 18th centuries, some of which (partially) remain today, such as Oud-Berkenroede, Berkenrode, Ipenrode, Huis te Manpad, Hartekamp, Bosbeek, Meer en Bosch, Meer en Berg, and Gliphoeve.
In 1857, the municipality Berkenrode was merged with Heemstede. In 1927, the northern portion of Heemstede, including a large part of the Haarlemmerhout forest, was added to the city of Haarlem.

## Monuments and parks

* Groenendaal Park: Designed by Jan Hope, it was formed by merging several country estates into one.
* Vrijheidsbeeld (Freedom Statue), statue by Mari Andriessen to celebrate freedom and commemorate Heemstede victims of the Dutch Revolt. Located on the Vrijheidsdreef in Groenendaal park.
* Heemstede Castle: The site of the former Heemstede castle.
* Hartekamp: Heemstede summer home of George Clifford, who hired Carl Linnaeus to write his Hortus Cliffortianus, a detailed catalogue of the plant specimens in the herbarium and gardens of Hartecamp. George Clifford's house is closed to the public, but the surrounding gardens are used as a campus and are open to visitors.
* Linnaeusbos (Linnaeus Forest): Originally a part of Hartekamp that was planted by George Clifford and documented by Linnaeus. In 2007, Heemstede celebrated Linnaeus's 300th birthday.
* De Naald: The 'needle' is a monument placed by D.J. van Lennep to honour Witte van Haemstede, the saviour of Haarlem at a battle which on 26 April 1304 and to honor the wounded of another battle fought against the Spanish on 8 July 1573. Both battles supposedly took place right at the corner of David Jacob van Lennep's house Huis te Manpad, where the monument stands.
* Town hall
* Villa Eikenrode, 1953
* College Hageveld

## Transport

The town is served by Heemstede-Aerdenhout railway station, which lies on the Oude Lijn between Haarlem and Leiden.

## Local government

The municipal council of Heemstede consists of 21 seats, which at the 2022 municipal election were divided as follows:
* Heemsteeds Burger Belang (HBB), 5 seats
* VVD, 5 seats
* D66, 4 seat
* GroenLinks, 3 seats
* CDA, 2 seats
* PvdA, 2 seats

## Notable residents

* Adriaan Pauw (1585–1653) bought the town in 1621, Grand Pensionary of Holland 1631 to 1636
* Jan Hope (1737–1784) a Dutch banker, summered in his Groenendaal Park 1767 to 1784
* Christiaan van Pol (1752–1813) a flower painter and teacher
* Thomas Hope (1769–1830/1831) a Dutch and British merchant banker, author, philosopher and art collector
* Ivan Smirnov (1895–1956) a Russian WWI flying ace and naturalized Dutch aviator, lived in Heemstede 1936–1947
* Johan Limpers (1915–1944) Dutch sculptor and WWII resistance fighter
* Jan Knappert (1927–2005) an Esperantist and expert on the Swahili language
* Pieter Kooijmans (1933–2013) Dutch politician, jurist and diplomat
* Jan Gmelich Meijling (1936–2012) a Dutch politician and naval officer
* Els Moor (1937–2016) was a Dutch-born Surinamese educator, editor and book publisher
* Astrid Schulz (born 1939) a Dutch model and actress, Playboy Playmate of the Month in September 1964
* Gijs Kuenen (born 1940) a Dutch microbiologist and academic
* Mieke Bal (born 1946) a Dutch cultural theorist, video artist and academic
* Joost Swarte (born 1947) a Dutch cartoonist and graphic designer
* Dick Maas (born 1951) a Dutch film director, screenwriter and film producer
* Floortje Dessing (born 1970) a Dutch radio and TV presenter, producer and travel writer
* Thierry Baudet (born 1983) Dutch politician and leader of the Forum for Democracy
* Julian Ras (Dutch Wikipedia) (born 2001) a Dutch actor

### Sport

* Joop van Dort (1889–1967) a footballer, team bronze medallist at the 1920 Summer Olympics
* Roepie Kruize (1925–1992) field hockey player and coach, team bronze medallist at the 1948 Summer Olympics and team silver medallist at the 1952 Summer Olympics
* Johan Neeskens (born 1951) a Dutch former footballer with 480 club caps and manager
* Annemieke Fokke (born 1967) a Dutch field hockey player, team bronze medallist at the 1988 Summer Olympics
* Jeroen Bleekemolen (born 1981) a Dutch professional racing driver
* Frank Korpershoek (born 1984) a Dutch professional footballer, 351 caps with SC Telstar
* Vincent Regeling (born 1997) a Dutch professional footballer

## Image gallery

* Church: Onze Lieve Vrouw Hemelvaartskerk
* Watertower
* Windmill, Groenendaal landmark
* Vrijheidsbeeld by Andriessen
* Oude Slot, site of the former Castle of Heemstede
* Hartekamp or Hartecamp, Heemstede/Bennebroek
* Countryhouse: Huys te Manpad
* De Naald memorial near Herenweg-Manpadslaan