Het Geldersch Landschap

Het Geldersch Landschap is a Dutch non-profit foundation (stichting) dedicated to the protection and management of nature and landscape in the province of Gelderland. Founded in April 1929 by Schelto van Heemstra, then Queen's Commissioner in Gelderland, and Pieter van Tienhoven, chairman of the Vereniging Natuurmonumenten, it was created to act for the preservation of Gelderland's natural and cultural heritage. Its first acquisition was Landgoed De Dellen in Heerde in 1929, and in the same year it successfully campaigned against a planned villa park on the Warnsborn estate near Arnhem, a landmark victory in Dutch nature conservation. Since 1998 the foundation has operated under the joint working organisation Geldersch Landschap & Kasteelen (GLK), together with the Stichting Vrienden der Geldersche Kasteelen (founded 1940). GLK protects and manages almost 12,000 hectares of Gelderland landscape, of which more than 7,000 hectares are forest, as well as numerous castles, historic country houses, castle ruins and farms. Seven castles are open to the public, along with virtually all of its nature reserves. The organisation is part of the national umbrella LandschappenNL, cooperating with the other Provincial Landscapes and landscape management organisations. More than national bodies such as Natuurmonumenten or Staatsbosbeheer, and more than other Provincial Landscapes, Het Geldersch Landschap has from the outset focused on nature connected to built heritage. In cooperation with the Vrienden der Geldersche Kasteelen it emphasises the 'ensemble': the combination of buildings, parks, surrounding woods and agricultural lands within its own estates. The foundation publishes a quarterly magazine, Mooi Gelderland (since 2004, continuing the earlier Gelders landschap magazine from 1979), and irregular handbooks describing its properties. It also relies on volunteers across Gelderland and offers public activities such as exhibitions, castle events and guided walks.

Het Geldersch Landschap was founded in April 1929 by Schelto van Heemstra, the Queen's Commissioner in Gelderland, and Pieter van Tienhoven, chairman of the Vereniging Natuurmonumenten. Their aim was to take action for the preservation of nature and landscape in Gelderland. In its founding year the new foundation made its first acquisition, Landgoed De Dellen in Heerde. A major early success was its campaign against a planned villa park on the Warnsborn estate near Arnhem. The asking price for the estate was far too high for the foundation, but Het Geldersch Landschap ultimately persuaded parliament to expropriate the estate for the foundation's benefit. This is regarded as one of the great victories in the history of Dutch nature conservation. In April 1940 Van Heemstra founded the Stichting Vrienden der Geldersche Kasteelen, with the aim of preserving castles and historic country houses in Gelderland. Both Stichting Het Geldersch Landschap and Stichting Vrienden der Geldersche Kasteelen were chaired by Schelto van Heemstra, and from 1951 they shared a common office and a joint director. In 1998 the two foundations united in a single working organisation, Geldersch Landschap & Kasteelen. From the beginning, more than national organisations such as Natuurmonumenten or Staatsbosbeheer, and more than other Provincial Landscapes, Het Geldersch Landschap focused on nature connected to built heritage. In cooperation with the Vrienden der Geldersche Kasteelen it emphasised the 'ensemble': the combination of buildings, parks and surrounding woods and agricultural lands within its own estates. Today GLK protects and manages almost 12,000 hectares of Gelderland landscape, of which more than 7,000 hectares are forest, as well as a large number of castles, historic country houses, castle ruins and farms. Seven castles are open to the public, and virtually all nature reserves as well. GLK works with the other Provincial Landscapes and a number of landscape management organisations within the umbrella LandschappenNL. The organisation has also maintained a publishing tradition. Since 1979 it has issued a magazine: Gelders landschap from 1979 to 2004, and since 2004 the quarterly Mooi Gelderland. Irregular 'handbooks' for donors and others describe its properties, which now number more than 150: in 1969, 1994, 2003 and 2014. In 1989 a commemorative book by Rien Snijders and Koos Dansen marked 60 years of protection of nature and culture, describing the roughly 75 nature areas the foundation owned and managed at that time.

• 2014

  Publication of the handbook Beleef! with accompanying app 'Landschap en kastelen'.

• 2004

  Magazine renamed Mooi Gelderland, becoming a quarterly.

• 2003

  Publication of the handbook Mooi Gelderland.

• 1998

  The two foundations unite in one working organisation, Geldersch Landschap & Kasteelen.

• 1994

  Publication of a guide to the foundation's sites (Gids voor de terreinen).

• 1989

  Commemorative book marks 60 years of nature and culture protection, describing about 75 nature areas.

• 1979

  The foundation begins publishing its magazine Gelders landschap.

• 1969

  Publication of the first handbook of Stichting Het Geldersch Landschap.

• 1951

  The two foundations begin sharing a common office and a joint director.

• 1940

  Stichting Vrienden der Geldersche Kasteelen founded in April by Van Heemstra to preserve Gelderland castles and historic country houses.

• 1929

  Stichting Het Geldersch Landschap founded in April by Schelto van Heemstra and Pieter van Tienhoven.

• 1929

  First acquisition: Landgoed De Dellen in Heerde.

• 1929

  Successful campaign against a planned villa park on landgoed Warnsborn in Arnhem, leading to expropriation for the foundation.

Provincial nature conservation organisation focused on the ensemble of nature, castles and historic estates in Gelderland; a non-profit foundation operating under the public-facing brand Geldersch Landschap & Kasteelen.

• Nature reserves and forests

  Almost 12,000 hectares of Gelderland landscape, of which more than 7,000 hectares are forest.

• Castles and historic country houses

  37 castles and country houses, seven of which are open to the public.

• Museum collections

  26,568 collection items.

• Mooi Gelderland magazine

  Quarterly magazine published since 2004, continuing Gelders landschap (1979–2004).

• Annual calendar

  Jaarkalender featuring nature areas, landscapes, castles and historic estates.

1. 1Geldersch Landschap & Kasteelen (GLK) | Een landschap dat we koesterenglk.nl
2. 2Het Geldersch Landschap - Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Het Geldersch Landschap - Wikipedia (NL)nl.wikipedia.org