Location

Estate Biljoen & Beekhuizen

The castle Biljoen was originally founded by duke Karel van Gelre. In 1662 the Biljoen castle and the estate came into the possession of the Van Spaen noble family. At this the time the castle was also rebuild to its current form with its 4 corner towers.

In 1682, the adjacent Beekhuizen estate was acquired and combined with the Biljoen estate.

Arcadian landscape 1744-1790

Baron J.F.W. van Spaen (1746-1827) starts in 1774 with the development of an innovative, romantic new park layout, that ensures the gain of international allure for Beekhuizen. The arcadian landscape is designed to “let the landscape influence the wandering human’s mood." The estate opens to the public in 1790.
 
Arcadië of Arcadia is a utopian land, filled with flowers, fruits, forest, clear water, the song of birds and an eternal summer.
The estates, located in the moraine landscape alongside the Rhine and IJssel (including the Beekhuizen estate), is a location known for its cultural history and is also known as Gelders Arcadian.

Hotel Beekhuizen 1847

Hotel Beekhuizen opens in 1847, alongside the Beekhuizen creek, build in a Swiss chalet-style. The accommodation is visited by many royals, poets and artists. Among them are Francois Haverschmidt (Piet Paaltjens), who stayed in 1870 and even wrote about it in his collection of poetry “Souvenir Beekhuizen”.

After being destroyed by a fire in 1892, the hotel is rebuilt in the same style.

 

Hotel Beekhuizen 2020

In 1930, Biljoen and Beekhuizen are sold to both the municipality Rheden and the Association for the preservation of natural monuments, after which they become part of the first national park in the Netherlands. Hotel Beekhuizen is not included in the transaction and remains private property. After reconstructing the hotel, we once again offer the possibility for overnight stays at this historic location.