Hofwijck

Hofwijck (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈɦɔfʋɛik]; or Vitaulium in Latin) is a mansion built for 17th-century politician Constantijn Huygens.

The building itself and the gardens (originally on both sides of the Vliet) were designed by Huygens himself in cooperation with the architect Jacob van Campen.

In the collection on display are various items from the Dutch Royal family that have to do with the work of either Constantijn or his son Christiaan.

Family paintings and furniture are on display throughout the building, and the library of Huygens (now a small office) contains many of his books, and offers the same strategic view out of the window at any boat that may appear (today one only sees highway traffic at eye level, and barge traffic at water level).

[1][2] Grossly neglected in later years, it was auctioned for demolition in 1849, which was avoided when it was acquired by politician Guillaume Groen van Prinsterer.