Dutch landscape architects West 8 are to develop a 17th century Dutch country estate and royal residence in Soestdijk, it has been announced today (9 June).

The Netherlands’ minister of the interior, Roland Plasterk, has revealed that business consortium Made in Holland have succeeded in the bidding war to purchase and redevelop the palace and gardens of Soestdijk Palace.

The group wants to transform the historic site into “a platform for innovation and excellent entrepreneurship, with exhibitions and events for a wide audience.”

It’s vision has been selected ahead of an alternative plan to create a garden-filled Eden Project affiliate, designed by architects Mecanoo, in and around the palace and its extensive grounds.

West 8 will lead the masterplan the project and lead the landscape integration, which involves both restoration of key historical landscape elements as well as additions that support the new identity and programme of the estate.

A video showcasing their initial designs can be viewed below:



The other architects, designers and engineers collaborating on the scheme are Tom Postma Design, Tinker Imagineers, Natuurmonumenten, Staatsbosbeheer, Horwath HTL, Motivaction, Goudappel Coffeng and 4Building.

Responding to the news, the Eden Soestdijk Foundation, which was behind the rejected plan, said it is “keen to continue with the plan, hoping to realise it elsewhere.”

West 8 have a busy pipeline of projects, including an enormous park in central Seoul, a 120 acre botanic garden in Houston, and a dune-filled new seafront in The Hague.