Page 197 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - The Netherlands

NOR TH HOLLAND  195

E Museum Hilversum
Kerkbrink 6. Tel 035-5339601.
Open daily. Closed 1 Jan, 27 Apr,
25 Dec. ∑ museumhilversum.nl

l Naardermeer
Road Map C3. n Meerkade 2,
Naarden (035-6990000). 8 7
∑ natuurmonumenten.nl
The Naardermeer is an area
of lakes and marshland
renowned for its breeding
colonies of cormorants and
purple herons. Several other
birds, such as the marsh harrier,
Hilversum town hall, finished in yellow brick the bittern, the reed warbler
and the spoonbill, can also
k Hilversum Bouwen. One of his most be observed here. Unusual
famous creations is the 1931 orchids, rare mosses and fungi
Road Map C3. n Kerkbrink 6. Tel
035-5446971. * 84,500. @ £ Raadhuis (town hall), with its grow here. The Naardermeer
( Wed & Sat. ∑ vvvhilversum.nl towers and beautiful interior is the oldest protected nature
(tours are given on Sundays). reserve in the Netherlands.
This dynamic centre in Het Its basement holds an Its creation was the start of
Gooi is known as the media exhibition on Dudok and the Vereniging Natuurmonu-
centre of the Netherlands, temporary architectural menten (Nature Reserve
because of the large number of exhibitions. The Museum Association). The association
broadcasting companies that Hilversum combines the has set out several walking
have been established here. Goois Museum and the Dudok tours around the area, which
Hilversum boasts a busy Centrum, illuminates the past are accessible to everyone.
shopping centre and attractive of Het Gooi and features an From April to November there
residential areas with a lot of archaeological collection. The are guided boat tours on the
greenery. Here and there you Neo-Gothic Sint-Vituskerk, lakes. Book via 035-6559955
will see houses and buildings designed by PJH Cuypers (see or online. No dogs allowed.
designed by architect Willem p94), with its 98-m (322-ft)
Dudok (1884–1974), a repre- tower, dates from 1892 and
sentative of the Nieuwe is worth a visit. z Laren
Road Map C3. * 11,100. @ ( Fri.
The Erfgooiers
Alongside pretty villas and
During the Middle Ages, the farmers of Het Gooi (see p176) joined country houses, Laren has many
together in a group to regulate the use of the heathland and converted old farm houses, a
meadows. From 1404, their rights were held in plough share notes. reminder of the time when it
Members of the group were known as erfgooiers, men living in Het was a farming village. In the
Gooi who were descendants of these medieval farmers. The right 19th and early 20th centuries,
of use was later converted into common property. The erfgooiers Laren and its surroundings
had to constantly fight for their rights. From the 19th century were the inspiration for many
onwards, the government strived to disband the group. In 1932, landscape and interior painters,
the heathland was sold, as were the meadows after 1965. The such as Mauve, Israëls and the
Association of Erfgooiers was disbanded in 1971.
American W Singer. The Singer
Museum has been set up in his
old house. Here you can see his
work and that of other 19th-
and 20th-century artists. There
is also a sculpture garden.
Sint-Jansbasiliek (1925)
towers above the Brink and
its charming restaurants.
E Singer Museum
Oude Drift 1. Tel 035-5393939.
De Erfgooiers (1907) by F Hart Nibbrig Open Tue–Sun. Closed 1 Jan, 27 Apr,
25 Dec. & 7 ∑ singerlaren.nl

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