From the start in June 2006, the main object of Historical Gardens blog has been to serve as a “window to the world” for the results of my favourite field of research: 18th century garden history. I see it as a place where current affairs in historical gardens and the continuous progression of my research meet. The aim is to raise knowledge of the introduction of the landscape style of gardening in Holland in the course of the 18th century. Everything extra is… extra. Gradually though, the ‘current affairs’ section has received more attention than expected.
In August 2007 I’ve expanded the blog with an additional source of information: HGwiki. In January 2010 I have pulled the plug on that one, mainly because the much hoped for participation by visitors did not materialise.
Living in The Netherlands, my main focus will ofcourse be on Dutch garden history. But the advantage of living in a small country is that ‘abroad’ is never far away. Furthermore, gardening in the Netherlands in the 18th century became more and more influenced by developments in surrounding countries. So I will be venturing into international garden history as well, which is why I chose to write my posts in English.
I am both a trained gardener and an art historian and I think one could say I have found my niche. This weblog has been beneficial in getting into contact with pleasant people and great projects:
- In December 2008 I joined a small workgroup, initiated by Tuinhistorisch Genootschap Cascade, that studies ‘masonic’ gardens in The Netherlands: gardens that showed signs of symbolism related to the Freemasons.
- In Januari 2009 I joined the governing board of the Nederlandse Tuinenstichting (NTs).
Opinions and observations presented on both HGblog and HGwiki are the author’s, unless stated otherwise. The organisations mentioned above cannot be held accountable, nor make any claims to observations and/or discoveries made by the author, unless specifically stated otherwise.
Publications:
Apart from the blog and wiki, I have acted as a (co-)author of several reports on specific parks and gardens. These, and other publications I’ve worked on, are listed below.
- Van der Eijk, H.; ‘Wandelen door een oud schilderij.’, Noordhollands landschap nr 3, september 1998, p.20-23.
- Albers, L.H., J.R. Boekhoff, H. van der Eijk; Beheersvisie Rosendael 2000-2020, Albers Adviezen, Utrecht 1999. For Stichting Het Geldersch Landschap.
- Albers, L.H., A. Guineé, H. van der Eijk; Den Treek, geschiedenis van het park, Albers Adviezen, Utrecht 1999.
- Van der Aar, J., S. Rolle; De tuinen van Beeckestijn. Een beeld van een buitenplaats. [some research and texts by HvdE], Museum Beeckestijn, Velsen-Zuid, 2000.
- Van der Eijk, H., L.H. Albers, M.A.E. van Tienen; Frankendael van hofstede tot openbaar park, Albers Adviezen, Utrecht 2000.
- Baas, H.G. [ed.]; Ontgonnen Verleden. Inzoomen op de historisch-geografische ontwikkeling van het Nederlandse landschap. [Lijst 6: Historische buitenplaatsen, p89-112; H. van der Eijk en H. Helmink-Habes], Hoorn, 2001.
- Van der Eijk, H.; ‘Van bloemenweide tot “melancholy lawn”: oorspronkelijke ideaalbeelden als basis voor ontwerp en beheer van gazons in (vroeg-) landschappelijke tuinen.’, Cascade 11 (2002), nr 2, p.25-44.
- Van der Eijk, H.; ‘Sandenhoeff: een vroeg landschappelijke tuin?’, in: Tuingeschiedenis in Nederland. Veelzijdig erfgoed in ‘t groen (Utrecht 2009), p104-110.
This publication doubles as Cascade 18 (2009), nr. 2, p104-110.
Henk van der Eijk
Rotterdam (updated January 2010)
