Huize De Sprengenberg

Huis De Sprengenberg takes up pride of place straight ahead, at the top of the hill. Constructed by A.A.W. van Wulfften Palthe. The Van Wulfften Palthe family owned forests and farms in Twente. In 1898, he purchased De Pas Farm and several plots of land at a sale in a café in Raalte. It was the inception of De Sprengenberg country estate. The estate (more than 900 hectares) gets its name from the ‘sprengen’ (springs) in the area: places where water comes to the surface.

It wasn’t long before the top of the hill saw the construction of a domed hunting lodge. The darker edges show the outline of this octagonal dome. The building on top of the mountain was partially built in 1903 and was initially intended to be a holiday home. It was extended and made more comfortable with the addition of central heating and electricity soon after and as such, became the main residence of the Van Wulffen Palthe family.

The round turret, with windows at varying heights, was used as an observatory. Wind vanes usually come in the shape of a cockerel, but take a closer look with binoculars and you’ll see a black grouse instead. The grounds and buildings are not open to the public.

Would you like to find out more about Huis Sprengenberg? Click here.