NECESSARY PREFACE

R E A D E R.

A decorative square woodcut initial "E" features ornate foliate designs and scrollwork.

As we open the curtain of our HOLLAND’S TEMPE, it will not be unhelpful, but entirely necessary, to present the Reader with a sketch of our intent, in order to stimulate your attention all the more in contemplating these accurate Illustrations. You see here then, benevolent Reader, the beginning of our intention: I say rightly the beginning, with respect to what is most speedily to follow. We begin from Amsterdam, to create a continuous chain of the road that we have intended to follow. First, the eye finds pleasure in the agreeable Pleasure-grounds situated along the Haarlem-canal and the High Road, until the sight is as if held fast by the amusements one encounters at Halfweg, in viewing the Pleasure-ground of Mr. KALF, and the excellent building Zwanenburg, otherwise called the common Land-house of Rynland; furthermore, we go through Sparenwou, past another common Land-house, to the ship- and canal-rich Village of Sparendam, and further along the Pleasure-ground of our never-too-highly-praised Civic-father, the Noble and Greatly Honorable Gentleman VAN DE POL, the pleasant house at Spyk, and the festive garden ornaments of Rózenbeek, belonging to the Noble Gentleman JAN TRIP JACOBSZ, to encounter Bekensteyn, the country estate of Mr. TORCK; after which we view with reverence Meervliet, the country retreat of the universally famous Noble and Greatly Honorable Citizen-gentleman LUCAS TRIP, to further rest a while on the old County Velsen during the walk that the eyes have taken through these Art-tableaus, in order to proceed again along Watervliet, the Pleasure-ground of the very Noble Gentleman CORVER, Alderman and Colonel of the City of Amsterdam, Lord of Velzen, to 't huis te Schulpen the house at Schulpen, belonging to Mr. KOUSSEBAND; now we encounter SCHEIBEEK, the country estate of Madame the widow of Mr. WILLEM BOREEL, to subsequently view the pleasure-garden Zuyderwyk of Mr. PIETER PELS, upon which we approach Akredam, that Land-jewel of the Noble Honorable Gentleman JAN LUCAS PELS, Alderman of the City of Amsterdam. There we encounter Béverwyk to find there, just as at Vélzen, another Resting-place for those who prefer to stand still a little while in viewing this Tempe. Further on the road we encounter old Meresteyn, once called the Schans aan de wyk Redoubt at the district, of which the owner is Mr. FRANÇOIS VAN HARINGKARSPEL; but the charming old Noble house at Adrichem invites us to its beautiful Front-lane, along which the Noble Honorable Gentleman JACOB TRIP JANZ. Alderman in our City, often enjoys the country retreat. Further is yet another Meresteyn, different from the previous one, belonging to Mr. HENDRIK VANDER SPELT,