Villa Welgelegen

Villa Welgelegen is a historical building in Haarlem, the Netherlands, which currently houses the offices of the provincial executives of North Holland.

Located at the north end of a public park in the city, it is an example of neoclassical architecture, designed by Abraham van der Hart and unusual for its style in the Netherlands.

From 1769 onwards, Henry Hope purchased more and more adjoining land in order to fulfill the plans he had for a great palace and picture gallery.

He had many famous visitors to this palace, including William V of Orange, who visited with his wife, Princess Wilhelmina of Prussia, and Thomas Jefferson in 1788.

He transferred the property to his nephew John Williams Hope who remained behind in Amsterdam to see to the family banking business.

John Williams Hope sold the villa in 1808 to Napoleon's brother Louis Bonaparte who had just been named King of Holland.

Villa Welgelegen after restoration in 2009, with the bronze Laocoön and His Sons
Situation map of Welgelegen in 1827.
Front of Villa Welgelegen on the Paviljoenslaan, Haarlem
East entrance to Welgelegen, and the private residence of Henry Hope when in Haarlem. In the back on the right is the rear entrance (today the only entrance).
Interior showing the official meeting room of the Province of North Holland.