Estates and Country Houses
After the Middle Ages, the nobility was given away to a new elite. This elite emerged from the urban bourgeoisie and became very rich through trade. The ‘new rich’ made it to the best jobs in politics. Outside the cities, they converted their wealth into large estates with beautiful country houses.
Eighty Years’ War
The Eighty Years’ War (1568-1648) is known as the battle of the Netherlands against Spain and a battle of Protestants against Catholics. But actually, it has much more to do with the final piece of urban emancipation. From now on, the wealthy citizens were in charge of the cities: self-confidently they determined what happened in their own city, but also in the provinces. The role of nobility and the clergy was largely played out and the Middle Ages were finished.
The Oranjes
During the Eighty Years’ War, Willem van Oranje and his descendants presented themselves as capable army commanders and administrators. In the following centuries, they also kept their hand in politics. They formed a special category of ‘rich’ with the preference for the Veluwe. Here they built several country houses, such as Het Loo, het Aardhuis, Oranje Nassau’s Oord and Hof te Dieren. The Oranjes also have a special bond with Buren.
The new rich
The new elite became rich primarily through trade. They are loaded with money and are looking for the most beautiful places in the Netherlands for a luxurious country house, which for this reason made Gelderland very popular. Country houses can be found everywhere in Gelderland, for example Mariënwaerdt, De Wijenburg, Zwaluwenburg, Huis Verwolde and we cannot forget about Huis de Voorst, the ‘Versailles of the Achterhoek’. Thanks to the industrial revolution, from the 19th century onwards, a new category of wealthy people emerged. The absolute pinnacle of industrial wealth is the St. Hubertus Hunting Lodge.
