Huygens' Hofwijck

The life and work of Constantijn Huygens can be admired at the summer residence he designed: Hofwijck. Huygens (1596-1687) was a fascinating, versatile man. He was counsellor to the stadtholders of Orange and a skilled practitioner of art and science in his spare time. He retreated to the harmonious surroundings of Hofwijck when he wished to escape from the political turbulence of life in The Hague. The garden at Hofwijck was reconstructed in 2004 in line with the original by Constantijn Huygens dated 1640. The design by Huygens was based on the architectural theory of Vitruvius, in which the harmony of the human body plays a central role.