Nederland - Ermelo, Oud Groevenbeek

Estate Oud Groevenbeek was acquired by Jacob Hendrik van Schermbeek at the beginning of the 20th century. He He had an existing house demolished and replaced it by a new, much larger house, which was built in 1907-1908 in Art Nouveau style to a design by the architects L.A. van Essen and J. van Zeggeren from Harderwijk. Around this period, in the immediate vicinity of the manor house and a farm, a number of outbuildings were also constructed, such as a gardener's house, a coach house and a greenhouse complex with a flower and grape greenhouse PiP5), which offers grapevines up to 90 years old.

These buildings are located within a park-like layout that was inspired by the English landscape style and which incorporated the existing lanes and historical field complexes. The park layout was probably designed by Jacob van Schermbeek himself with the garden architect Copijn as advisor. Another striking element is the castle-like water tower (PiP6), which was built in 1912 on an artificially created hill. It was taken out of use in 1950 and restored in 1994.

Oud Groevenbeek estate remained in the possession of the family for a considerable time. In 1968, when the estate had fallen into disrepair, it was sold by the then owner P.A. van Schermbeek to Natuurmonumenten (Society for Preservation of Nature Monuments in the Netherlands). This society has restored this Dutch national monument completely in the old style and ina perfect condition. Nowadays it is possible to rent one of the holiday suites in Oud Groevenbeek.