This wonderful little town situated in the center region of the Netherlands on the banks of the river Vecht, a Rhine branch in the Dutch province of Utrecht. It is sometimes called Utrechtse Vecht to avoid confusion with its Overijssel counterpart.

In the 17th and 18th centuries, many country estates known as "buitenplaats" were built on the banks of the Vecht by rich merchants and administrators from Amsterdam.

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[MarkJerling]

Very nice. I love the architectural details.

[CreationBear]

I love the architectural details

+1...great set. A question: what's the name and function of the first small building there on the riverside? I've seen them in photos of English estates, but never knew exactly what I was seeing.

[newmikey]

+1...great set. A question: what's the name and function of the first small building there on the riverside? I've seen them in photos of English estates, but never knew exactly what I was seeing.

It's a little garden teahouse where the rich and famous would have their afternoon tea in summer.

[CreationBear]

where the rich and famous would have their afternoon tea in summer

Ha, quite the different world than the one I knew here in the hardscrabble American South! Lovely photo, though, with the verdant greens as a backdrop.

[Kerrowdown]

It's a little garden teahouse

Was it not also used as boat house also?

[newmikey]

Was it not also used as boat house also?

Quite possibly, yes. Rowing was a popular way to while away the time as well as allowing ladies to meet with appropriate gentlemen in a somewhat private setting on the river - romantic. I'll try to dig out some more info about this particular one.

[Kerrowdown]

Quite possibly, yes

You can actually see the white boat in this shot, through the slats of the dark grey doors at the waterline.

[newmikey]

Research: The residence this little building belongs to is House "VEGTLUST", dating back to ca.1730 and it is indeed described as an octogonal tea-cupola. The available data on the house shows that after having been built by its initial inhabitants, it was sold in 1764 for a whopping 13500 guilders (flat-rated to today's currency a laughable €6000 but undoubtedly a fortune in those days).

In 1953 it was sold for 100000 guilders and in 1956 it became a small typewriter factory. In 1978 the place was turned into a boarding school for boys and eventually it was purchased by a real estate developer who turned it into 6 apartments in the 1980'ies.

[CreationBear]

octogonal tea-cupola

Excellent, thanks for elaborating on the history of the place.

[timedriver]

Nicely done.

[Jeff]

Lovely. I particularly like the 4th image - the lamp. Very atmospheric.

[newmikey]

Thanks to all who have responded/reacted. Very much appreciate the comments.

[Adam]

I really like #4. The colors, composition, and bokeh work together perfectly!