Duinlustweg 16

A historical country estate with royal allure

Estate Duinlust

The estate Duinlust in Overveen is an extraordinary place. The historical estate, done in neo-renaissance style, was created in 1882 in the illustrious transition area on the edge of the dunes of Overveen, near Amsterdam, where forest and sea air come together. The impressive estate, surrounded by a park, breathes history and timeless charm. A stylish family residence with countless uses.

On a sunny day the deer come down from the dunes and feast on the warmth and the juicy grass of the meadows in front of the steps of Duinlust. Some adult bucks will fight each other for the dominance of the herd – the dull bangs of their antlers knocking together resound over the fields. Nature is still close here, which means fairy tale type scenes. The fairy tale countryside around Duinlust is a protected nature reserve. From the house, the residents enjoy beautiful views of the hilly grounds, flanked by monumental red beeches and oaks, until deep in the neighbouring estate Elswout. It does not take a lot of imagination to picture how elegant and pleasant life at Duinlust was in the time of the wealthy Borski family. Johanna Jacoba Borski bought the estate in 1828 and nearly sixty years later her granddaughter had the current estate in neo-renaissance style built there later on with the architecture of Constantijn Muysken (1843-1922).

In 2016, Duinlust, a listed building, is still largely intact and has kept its original appearance and magnificence. The contours of the house manifest themselves at the end of a long driveway, accessible through a characteristic entrance gate on the Duinlustweg.
The majestic hall of the estate is dominated by four columns of red marble, a delicately laid marble floor and a lovely coffered ceiling. However, the showstopper is the 17th century grand staircase in renaissance style, that madam Borski had brought from a hotel in Paris all the way to Duinlust. The hall is central in the house, and offers access to eight rooms, varying from a surface of 25 to approx. 66 m². The rooms to the south, among which are the atmospheric ‘Borski suite’ and the salon, have doors opening onto the landing and the partly roofed terraces. The Borski suite breathes the distinction of yore, with authentically strung Gobelin wallpaper, lots of carvings, beautiful oak wainscots, architraves and an impressive oak chimney.

The renowned architect Heiko Hulsker has made an exploratory interior design, based on which the estate can be transformed into a very ample and stylish family residence. The total living space is approx. 2,260 m², divided over four floors (each of approx. 250 to over 500 m²), an enormous basement and a cellar. The floors can be reached by elevator in this plan, or via one of the staircases. The design is only an indication of all that can be realised here, and completely non-committal.

Everyone who visits Duinlust and is moved by a rich history and opulent surroundings will become inspired and want to explore the countless possibilities.
Around the estate some characteristic buildings have arisen, such as a beautiful wooden ‘chalet’, and ice cellar and follies in the park. But the most recent expansions are also worth the most. In the park of a protected, monumental estate, the possibilities for new buildings are usually nil, which limits the uses quite a lot. On the domain of Duinlust, an exception was made in the 1960s, for the construction of a sports pavilion and a multifunctional annex. In 2004, a lot of money was spent on renovating the pavilion, and transforming it into a state-of-the-art wellness and fitness centre. Because of the surface (about 1,230 m²), layout and perfect state of maintenance, this complex is suited to many purposes, for example as an ample practice area or representative company and/or office building. Finally, there is the rare possibility to house one or more living units in the pavilion, fitting within specific frameworks, to be determined by the authorities.

The annex behind Duinlust, with usable floor space of approx. 540 m², can be renovated however you like, or be replaced by, for example, with a garage in historical style for a collection of classic cars or another hobby or activity that requires space.

Estate Duinlust is part of a ribbon of historical estates on the edge of the undisturbed dune area near Overeen and Bloemendaal. The forests, dunes, the nearby beach and the healthy sea air form a unique and very soothing and central habitat. Driving to Amsterdam and the airport Schiphol takes about twenty minutes and The Hague is only about forty kilometres away. Beautiful villages such as Aerdenhout, Bloemendaal and Overveen are very close, just like Haarlem, which offers all thinkable facilities.
An impressive estate of this quality, with a rich history and situated in a top location is not something you often see on the market. Seeing as the park of Duinlust is part of a surrounding, protected area, there is a real chance that the estate will receive the NSW-status upon request, with all the fiscal benefits that would follow.