Baarn, Laren and Blaricum

Deciduous forests, coniferous forests and heathland, but also grasslands with sand ice ditches, estates and unique remains of narrows and villages. A bike ride through Het Gooi shows you a landscape that is found almost nowhere else in the Netherlands. On the east and west sides of the high sand ridge, the landscape is flat and meadows stretch out, while the highest point of Het Gooi is Tafelberg, which is 36.4 m above sea level. Sandy plains and wooded areas alternate in subtle transitions from high to low and the heathland is thus surrounded by forests in a consistent, unique way. The height differences create beautiful waters on the edges of Het Gooi. Although buildings are advancing, parts of Het Gooi are being protected, so that the unique scenic landscape can be preserved. Laren, among others, is expanding rapidly. The town is named after a 'man'; an open space in the forest and that is a place that appeals to the imagination. It is therefore not surprising that Laren is one of the oldest inhabited places in the Gooi. The very first people lived here around 2500 BC and in 1085 the bishop of Utrecht founded the Sint Janskerkhof. Although it was initially a farming village, Laren has grown into a commuter village, where many people living in Utrecht seek refuge. You park your car in the parking lot in Baarn. Profile Henk Wind (F) is located here and we advise you to have your bike checked here before you set off. With the bicycle discount pass you get a 10 euro discount on maintenance or repairs and it is reassuring to know that your bicycle has been properly checked before you start the bike tour. To pass the time, you can admire Huis Peking, which was built half a kilometer away from the bicycle specialist. The house dates from 1792 and the Chinese architectural style is a reference to the owner's trade with China, which made him rich. On the roof you can see two beautiful lions that characterize the house. Nowadays, Portaal's head office is located in the building, so you cannot visit the inside of the house. Take the time for a walk through the Beijing Garden, which surrounds the house. This beautifully landscaped garden is freely accessible. Until 1857, Hooge Vuursche officially belonged to the municipality of De Vuursche. However, today this hamlet is part of the municipality of Baarn. In 1840 Hooge Vuursche had 53 inhabitants in four houses. The most important building on the territory is the castle of the same name, which is hidden among the trees. De Hooge Vuursche Castle was opened in 1912 and, because of its green surroundings, it is a location where weddings, presentations and parties are regularly held. Previously, the castle was used as a hotel-restaurant, but in the years after WWII important conferences were held there. Heineken also owned the castle and used a wing of the building as a safehouse. The last sight of the tour is also near Baarn. Drakenburg Castle was a knight's court town and a castle built around the fourteenth century. The castle existed until the beginning of the nineteenth century and was inhabited for a long time by its namesakes, the Lords of Drakenburg. The castle has been extensively renovated over the years. Nowadays, new buildings have been placed within the nationally monumental canal remnant. This contains a remnant of the old coach house.