Today
The Oud Poelgeest estate contains five monumental buildings: the castle, coach house, chapel, gamekeeper's house and gatehouse. Each has its own history and story. Oud Poelgeest has been a conference hotel since 1988: a monumental location with a function and a future.

Oud Poelgeest Foundation manages the estate and its buildings. Each hotel reservation contributes to the preservation of the monumental buildings. Access to the estate is free. Anyone is welcome to stroll through the gardens and park.

Marshy ground
The estate's history probably dates back to 960, when the Bishop of Utrecht owned a piece of land amidst the surrounding marshy ground. The land contained a villa, which was probably the castle's predecessor.

It is not until 1320 that we can be more certain about the castle’s history. In this year, Floris van Alkemade gave the estate to his half-brother Hendrik van Poelgeest. The castle was subsequently bequeathed and sold several times.

I have purchased a garden... and a country house
In 1724, Hermanus Boerhaave, renowned professor of medicine and herbalist, bought the castle and took up residence. He wrote to a friend: "I have purchased a garden". The fact that a 20-room house went with the garden was apparently of minor importance. He grew exotic and rare plants in the park attached to the country house. His herb garden was famous. The estate must have looked wonderful at this time.
In about 1736 another professor of medicine, Carolus Linnaeus, visited Oud Poelgeest and was so impressed that he is quoted as saying the following: "What a paradise, it is truly beautiful here!"

Two towers, a chapel and a coach house
After Boerhaave, the castle was again the subject of a series of bequests and sales. In the second half of the 19th century, it was bought by Gerrit Willink. The Willink family added the two towers to the castle, the coach house and the chapel on the Haarlemmertrekvaart canal.

A literary location
The castle stood empty from 1907. In 1940, Oegstgeest municipality bought the estate and its buildings.

Writer and sculptor Jan Wolkers left a great many footprints in the castle gardens. During his youth, he often played and drew there and frequently wrote about Oud Poelgeest later.

And today
Oud Poelgeest's history continues. Each guest leaves his or her own story on the estate. After all, today’s stories are tomorrow’s history.