- Construction year: 1630 - 1635
- Style of construction: English landscape style
- Architect: Jan David Zocher jr.
- Original function: Country house
The historic Dordwijk Estate was established around 1635 as a country retreat for wealthy city dwellers who wanted to escape the city. Only the castle farmhouse, right next to the entrance, still serves as a reminder of those early years. In the mid-nineteenth century, landscape architect and garden designer Jan David Zocher Jr. transformed the estate into a park in the English landscape style. The result was a beautiful landscape park featuring meandering ponds and paths, complementary plantings, a deer enclosure, distinctive bridges, and groups of trees.
Also built during that period were, among others, Huize Dordwijk (1855) and the Orangery (1861). Both are in an eclectic style, with Huize Dordwijk also featuring influences from the chalet style. The same is true of Villa Sorghvliet, which was added to the park in 1892. The gardener’s house and several barns complete the ensemble and form a harmonious whole with the rest of the park. Of the many country estates on the Island of Dordrecht, the Dordwijk Estate is the only one that has been preserved in such pristine condition.
