Page 212 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - The Netherlands

210  WESTERN NE THERLANDS

e Amersfoort
Road Map C4. * 149,700. £
@ n Breestraat 1 (0900-
1122364). ( Thu, Fri & Sat.
∑ vvvamersfoort.nl
The old town centre of
Amersfoort contrasts sharply
with the districts that surround
it, which reflect a contemporary
architectural style. The centre is
defined by small streets with
old houses and gardens. The
Muurhuizen (wall houses) were
built on the site of the old
defence ring. The Onze Lieve The 15th-century Koppelpoort, one of Amersfoort’s three surviving gates
Vrouwetoren (Tower of Our
Lady) is difficult to miss. The artspace does not have its own r Doorn
contours of this old chapel can collection but curates exhibitions Road Map C4. * 10,000. @
still be seen in the stones of the on contemporary art and culture, n Langbroekerweg 10 (0343-421020).
pavement. In 1787, the chapel, architecture and design. Attached ( Thu am. ∑ vvvheuvelrug.nl
which was used to store to it is an art school and a shop
gunpowder, was blown up. that sells books on art and other Doorn, originally called Thorheim
The Amersfoortse kei memorabilia. The library, the (home of Thor, god of thunder),
boulder appeared in the town Amersfoot Archives, is a must visit. is a pretty village in wooded
in 1661, when a nobleman bet surroundings. The greatest tourist
he could drag the stone from Environs attraction here is Huis Doorn,
the Leusderheide. Ever since, Some 4 km (2 miles) away, where between 1920 and 1941
Amersfoort has held the annual in the village of Leusden, Kamp the German Kaiser, Wilhelm II,
Keistadfeest (Keistad festival) in Amersfoort is a grim reminder of lived with his retinue. (He fled his
celebration of the event. the area’s history. A Dutch army country after World War I.) The
The Museum Flehite gives barracks was transformed in 1941 kaiser lies buried in a mausoleum
an overview of the history of into a work camp for more than in the castle gardens. The kaiser’s
Amersfoort from the Middle Ages. 35,000 people, including Jewish former garage is now a pavilion
The town was the birthplace of prisoners and Jehovah’s Witnesses. commemorating World War I, and
abstract painter Mondriaan, the Many were later transported to its impact on the Netherlands.
leading light of the De Stijl and concentration camps. The camp The Von Gimborn Arboretum
Neo-Plasticist movements. The also held American and Russian is a 27-hectare botanical garden
house where he was born is now prisoners of war. The site is now begun in 1924. Part of the
home to the Mondriaanhuis a national monument. Several University of Utrecht, it was origi-
voor Constructieve en Concrete commemorative ceremonies nally the private garden of Max
Kunst, a study centre and archive are held each year. von Gimborn, an ink manufacturer
of the artist’s life and work, who was a tree expert and plant
including several of his paintings. E Museum Flehite collector in his spare time.
On the edge of town, housed in Westsingel 50. Tel 033-2471100.
an eye-catching building named Open 11am–5pm Tue–Fri, noon–5pm
Eemhuis, is Kunsthal KAdE. This Sat & Sun. Closed Mon & public hols.
& ∑ museumflehite.nl
E Mondriaanhuis voor
Constructieve en Concrete Kunst
Kortegracht 11. Tel 033-4600170.
Open 11am–5pm Tue–Fri, noon–5pm
Sat & Sun. Closed 1 Jan, 27 Apr,
25 Dec. ∑ mondriaanhuis.nl
E Kunsthal KAdE
Eemplein 77. Tel 033-4225030.
Open 11am–5pm Tue–Fri, noon–5pm
Sat–Sun. Closed 1 Jan, 27 Apr, 25 Dec.
0 7 = ∑ kunsthalkade.nl
E Kamp Amersfoort
Loes van Overeemlaan 13, Leusden.
Onze Lieve Vrouwetoren, a church tower Tel 033-4613129. Open Tue–Sun. Von Gimborn Arboretum, one of the
in Amersfoort ∑ kampamersfoort.nl Netherlands’ largest gardens
For hotels and restaurants in this region see p397 and p410

210-211_EW_Netherlands.indd 210 16/01/17 12:05 pm
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.4)
Date 25th April 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm