Editing Heemstede (section)

== History ==
Heemstede formed around the [[Heemstede Castle]] that was built overlooking the [[Spaarne]] River around 1286. Before 1296, [[Floris V, Count of Holland]], granted Heemstede as a fiefdom to Reinier of Holy. During the 14th century, a village formed near the castle, which was destroyed and rebuilt several times in this period. A resident of this castle was [[Adriaan Pauw]], who bought it in 1620. In 1653, [[Bennebroek]] split off from Heemstede, becoming a separate fiefdom.

[[File:Gem-Heemstede-OpenTopo.jpg|274px|thumb|Topographic map of  Heemstede]]
Growth was slow; in 1787 Heemstede counted 196 families. Even at that early date Heemstede had gained the reputation it has today, of being primarily a [[commuter town]] for the cities of [[Haarlem]] and [[Amsterdam]]. Wealthy city families left the cities in the summer, escaping "canal fever" which caused illness from the putrid canals. As a result, many estates were built in the 17th and 18th centuries, some of which (partially) remain today, such as Oud-Berkenroede, [[Berkenrode]], Ipenrode, [[Huis te Manpad]], [[Hartekamp]], Bosbeek, Meer en Bosch, Meer en Berg, and Gliphoeve.

In 1857, the municipality [[Berkenrode]] was merged with Heemstede. In 1927, the northern portion of Heemstede, including a large part of the [[Haarlemmerhout]] forest, was added to the city of Haarlem.