Buitenplaats Beeckestijn

About the museum

Beeckestijn in Velsen-Zuid is a country estate (“buitenplaats”) on the edge of the Kennemer Dunes, where wealthy Amsterdam regent families spent the summer months in the 17th and 18th centuries. The city's social life continued here “outside”: people received guests, dined, played games and listened to music. Towards the end of the 18th century, Jacob Boreel in particular shaped the gardens. The house was inhabited until the 20th century.

In 1952 the municipality of Velsen bought the estate. In 2007 it handed the country house with its outbuildings over to the Hendrick de Keyser Monumenten association, which set up the ground floor as a museum house; Natuurmonumenten looks after the park and ornamental gardens. The ensemble has been listed as a Rijksmonument with twelve individual monuments since 1998. Since the beginning of 2026 the main building has been an officially recognised museum.

In the permanent exhibition “Beeckestijn: een (on)fortuinlijke buitenplaats”, a tour of the main building leads from the early modern period to the present day: each room tells a new story of wealth, loss and the role of the residents in the colonial world. The showpiece of the hall is the stucco work by Ignatius van Logteren. The surrounding gardens are considered one of the best-preserved historic garden complexes in the Netherlands; they are freely accessible during the day. From autumn 2026 the complex will be restored and renovated for energy efficiency, and the main building will remain open.

Highlights

• Tour of the main building covering three centuries of residents' history, wealth, loss and colonial past
• Stucco work by Ignatius van Logteren in the entrance hall
• One of the best-preserved historic garden complexes in the Netherlands, freely accessible
• Search card for children featuring the “Radje van Fortuin”
• Guided tours of the house and garden on the first and third Sunday of the month

Permanent exhibitions

• Beeckestijn: een (on)fortuinlijke buitenplaats – Tour of the main building covering three centuries of residents' history, wealth, loss and colonial heritage; a new story in every room.
• Historische Gärten und Park – The gardens, maintained by Natuurmonumenten, combine 17th-century parterres with an 18th-century landscape park; freely accessible.

Operated by

Hendrick de Keyser Monumenten

Admission & discounts

Free admission with Museumkaart, Rembrandtkaart, VriendenLoterij VIP-KAART and for members of the Vereniging Hendrick de Keyser. Guided tours on the 1st and 3rd Sunday of the month with member discount; group tours are subject to a charge.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The house is accessible to wheelchair users; there is an accessible toilet. Timed-slot tickets prevent crowding.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide

Children up to 18 have free admission and can use a search card to look for the golden “Radje van Fortuin” in the house; a large wheel invites visitors to give it a turn.

Getting there & parking

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Amenities & dining

• Restaurant

There is a restaurant on the estate; it is also used as a wedding venue.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Weddings / ceremonies

The museum house can be rented for exclusive events and is a popular wedding venue; enquiries via Hendrick de Keyser (“Uw event”).

Plan your visit