Huis Landweer

Now that many people are not going on holiday abroad this year, a lot of tourists know how to find Drenthe to escape the crowds. The special Huis Landweer in Roderesch is one of the Drenthe holiday homes that is completely booked by those seeking tranquility.

The holiday home is located in the middle of the forest between Roderesch and Steenbergen and was built in 1924. Since its construction, the house has been in the possession of the Landweer family: a rich industrial family from Groningen. The family bought their own spruce forest to retreat from the hustle and bustle of the city and built the cottage into it.

Rijkaards from Groningen

The owner, Mrs. Landweer-Burger, passed away in 2014 and left the house and the forest to the Het Drentse Landschap foundation. The house was still in its original state at that time, which is special according to the foundation. In the period between the two world wars, the interwar period, more wealthy people from Groningen bought land in the countryside of Drenthe to build houses. But most of those structures have since been demolished.

"Mrs. Landweer has always lived here," says monument manager Jermo Tappel of Het Drentse Landschap. "Even when she was over 90, she still maintained the forest. With some help from us."

Old details

After the owner died and the entire plot was transferred, Het Drentse Landschap decided to transform the house into a holiday home. Cultural-historical research showed that the house is historically valuable and therefore had to be preserved, so the foundation has restored many of the old details. "The doors, many walls, the hinges and locks and all the beams inside are still original. To enlarge the stay, we have made a glass extension without compromising the original house", says Tappel.

However, considerable insulation had to be done, because insulation was not available. The floor has therefore been replaced and durable flax insulation has been placed against the walls. A heat pump has also been installed and there are solar panels on the shed next to the house to generate electricity. Apart from the new glass extension, the house looks much the same as it always has been.

Popular with tourists

Tourists have now discovered the old holiday home and according to Tappel it is quite popular. "People who rent the cottage can also take advantage of the four-hectare private forest. You can take beautiful, idyllic walks in it without encountering others, as it is not publicly accessible."

WRITTEN BY

Hjalmar Guit