400 years of 's-Graveland: 400 years of history, nature, and culture!

's-Graveland is a village in the municipality of Wijdemeren in the province of North Holland. The village is located approximately 5 km west of Hilversum and east of Kortenhoef. Part of the village has been a protected village landscape since 1986. Until its dissolution in 2002, the municipality of 's-Graveland had approximately 10.000 inhabitants. 's-Graveland and Kortenhoef are known for their pure water, which led to many laundries establishing themselves here. 2025 will be a big celebration, as 's-Graveland turns 400. Celebrate with us this year and enjoy the rich nature and cultural history at 10 beautiful country estates.

Heraldry of 's-Graveland

The coat of arms was officially granted on June 26, 1816, and modified on July 20, 1967. The coat of arms of 's-Graveland dates from 1641. On July 12 of that year, the States of Holland and West Friesland granted the bailiff of 's-Graveland the right to bear a coat of arms depicting a crowned bird. However, the text does not mention which bird is depicted here.

In later documents, there is consistent mention of a bustard. This is another name for the Great Bustard. This bird, which is no longer found in the municipality, was quite numerous in the 17th century. It is not unlikely that this distinctive bird was included in the new coat of arms. However, the bustard was already depicted incorrectly in the 17th century, namely more as an ordinary goose. Similarly, in the coat of arms drawings of 's-Graveland, a connection is made more with the 'goose' part of the name rather than the 'bush' part. After the merger of 's-Graveland with Ankeveen and Kortenhoef, a new coat of arms was required. The description of the first design read as follows: Quartered: I gules charged with a bustard sable, bearing a golden crown with 3 leaves; II gilt, charged with a horse's hoof sable shod with a silver horseshoe; III silver charged with a heron azure; IV gules charged with a pelican with outstretched wings sitting on a nest with 5 young, all silver.

In this design, the coats of arms of the various municipalities have been merged. However, the coat of arms of Kortenhoef had never been officially confirmed and was also more of a family coat of arms. The High Council of Nobility therefore did not approve it. Consequently, a pike has been included as a symbol for Kortenhoef in the new coat of arms.  

History of 's-Graveland

's-Graveland was originally part of Het Gooi. The village developed rapidly in the 16th and especially the 17th century. In 1625, several wealthy Amsterdammers wanted to establish a concession there for the reclamation of approximately 500 hectares of land, which was granted to them by the States of Holland on the condition that they reach an agreement with the Erfgooiers, the users of the land. However, the latter did not agree with this proposal, as the regulations stipulated that both the owner (the States) and the users (the Erfgooiers) had to give their consent. This led to a conflict, whereupon the States sent a number of companies of soldiers to the area to force the Erfgooiers to agree. In 1634, the States promised never again to sell land without the permission of the Erfgooiers, but the Erfgooiers decided that year that, due to the unauthorized sale, the area no longer belonged to Het Gooi and the area's applicable grazing rights lapsed: consequently, residents of the area were no longer allowed to keep livestock on the common lands of Het Gooi. In 1644, the first skipper was appointed to maintain a regular ferry and towboat service to Amsterdam. In 1648, a school was established and a schoolmaster was appointed. In 1649, the first annual horse market was held. In 1657, the Reformed Church was built by the Amsterdam city architect Daniël Stalpaert. A Hemony bell from 1655 hangs in this cruciform church. In 1824, a Bätz organ was installed.

The basis of the street plan consists of two old streets, the Noordereinde and the Zuidereinde. Where they meet is the 'Smidsbrug' intersection. From there, the Leeuwenlaan goes to Hilversum and the Kerklaan to Kortenhoef.  

History of Ankeveen

The first mention of the name Ankeveen dates back to the year 953. At that time, the parish of Ankeveen belonged to the mother church, the “matrix Ekklèsia”, of the Archdiocese of Utrecht. It was Otto I, King of Germany, who granted the extensive marshlands to Bishop Balderik (917/8-975) for reclamation in 953. The naming of the main street, Stichts End and Hollands End, reflects the fact that the village was situated on the border between Utrecht and Holland. The southern part, Stichts End, lay in the province of Utrecht until October 1, 1819 (formerly called Sticht Utrecht, where sticht means diocese). The northern part, Hollands End, lay in the Region of Holland, later the province of North Holland, as part of the municipality of Weesperkarspel. Both parts were also known as Stichts Ankeveen and Hollands Ankeveen. The municipality of Stichts Ankeveen was merged with the municipality of Nederhorst den Berg on January 1, 1812, only to be separated from it again on January 1, 1818. On October 1, 1819, Stichts Ankeveen was merged with the municipality of Hollands Ankeveen, thereby transferring from the province of Utrecht to the province of North Holland. From 1819 to 1966, both parts together formed the independent municipality of Ankeveen in the province of North Holland. The town hall, the old 'Rechthuis', stands on the corner of Stichts End and Stichtse Kade, on the former municipal boundary. On August 1, 1966, the municipality of Ankeveen merged into the municipality of 's-Graveland, which in turn merged into the newly formed municipality of Wijdemeren in 2002.  

Country estates

From the seventeenth century onwards, 's-Graveland was popular among wealthy Amsterdammers, who built, inherited, or bought estates and country houses there, such as:

• Bantam, of the Nature Monuments Association;
• Boekesteyn, owned by Natuurmonumenten; the Dedel family lived here, and later the Hooft Graafland family;
• Gooilust, owned by Natuurmonumenten, has a beautiful star-shaped forest.
• Hilverbeek on Leeuwenlaan;
• Land and Forest
• Hunting desire
• Schaep en Burgh, currently the headquarters of Natuurmonumenten;
• Schoonoord, from Natuurmonumenten;
• Spanderswoud
• Sperwershof
• Mirror rust
• Swaenenburgh
• Trompenburgh, built by Cornelis Tromp, property and office of the Monumentenbezit Foundation.

The 's-Gravelandsevaart, along which most of the houses stand, was formerly an important connecting route between Amsterdam and Hilversum. Transport by ship was often preferred over transport by carriage, as the road was hardly paved anywhere. Nowadays, this is called the Noordereind and Zuidereind. In the Disaster Year of 1672, much damage was caused by the French. Houses were destroyed and residents murdered. In 1673, the French left and much was rebuilt. New gardens in the French style were laid out. Thanks to Peter Janssen for the franking machine stamps. See www.frankeerstempel.nl for information.  

<strong> More info: </strong>

400 years of 's-Gravenland: https://www.sgraveland400jaar.nl/ https://www.natuurmonumenten.nl/400-jaar-s-graveland https://www.natuurmonumenten.nl/natuurgebieden/s-gravelandse-buitenplaatsen 's-Gravenland Walk, pages 36 – 40: https://issuu.com/natuurmonumenten/docs/puur_natuur_lente_2025?fr=xKAE9_zU1NQ