You can easily explore the area on foot or by bike from the Toeristisch Overstappunt (TOP; Tourist Transfer Point) Beauforthuis in Austerlitz. Austerlitz is located on the Utrechtse Heuvelrug, the lateral moraine from the glacial period, which runs from the Grebbeberg to the Gooimeer lake. The area is wonderful for gentle hikes or bicycle tours to take in heathlands, wooded areas and the Rivierenland.
The area also features stunning country cottages. You will not find them in Au…
You can easily explore the area on foot or by bike from the Toeristisch Overstappunt (TOP; Tourist Transfer Point) Beauforthuis in Austerlitz. Austerlitz is located on the Utrechtse Heuvelrug, the lateral moraine from the glacial period, which runs from the Grebbeberg to the Gooimeer lake. The area is wonderful for gentle hikes or bicycle tours to take in heathlands, wooded areas and the Rivierenland.
The area also features stunning country cottages. You will not find them in Austerlitz, which originally functioned as an encampment of Napoleon’s troops. After they left, the Pyramide remained, as did a penniless population. To combat poverty, Johannes Stoop established an agricultural college in what is currently a theatre and café. His idea was to cultivate the heathlands using sheep manure, but this fell short of expectations. Stoop’s daughter Anna Aleida married Aernoud Jan de Beaufort, the heir of the Den Treek country estate in Leusden, and they decided to convert to forestry. In 1861, they cultivated the area behind the former school and church for Austerlitz, which in 1989 was converted into the Beauforthuis.
The Beauforthuis is located between three country estates owned by the De Beaufort family: Den Treek-Henschoten, De Boom (Leusden) and Molenbosch (Zeist). You can find the following little gems nearby: the Koepel van Stoop and Het Witte Huis.