| Heemstede | |
| Settlement Type: | Hamlet |
| Native Name Lang: | nl |
| Pushpin Map: | Netherlands Utrecht#Netherlands |
| Pushpin Map Caption: | Location in the Netherlands |
| Subdivision Type: | Country |
| Subdivision Name: | Netherlands |
| Subdivision Type1: | Province |
| Subdivision Name1: | Utrecht |
| Subdivision Type2: | Municipality |
| Subdivision Name2: | Houten |
| Population Density Km2: | auto |
| Timezone: | CET |
| Utc Offset: | +1 |
| Timezone Dst: | CEST |
| Utc Offset Dst: | +2 |
| Postal Code Type: | Postal code |
| Postal Code: | 3991 |
| Area Code Type: | Dialing code |
| Area Code: | 030 |
| Coordinates: | 52.0378°N 5.1242°W |
Heemstede is a hamlet in the central Netherlands. It is located 3 km west of Houten, Utrecht. The hamlet is known for Heemstede Castle (1645).
Until 1812, Heemstede was a separate heerlijkheid. Between 1818 and 1857 it was a part of Oud-Wulven, until that municipality merged with Houten. The area had 75 inhabitants around 1850.
It was first mentioned in 1219 as in Hemsteden, and means "place with houses".[1] Heemstede is not a statistical entity,[2] and the postal authorities have placed it under Houten,[3] and there are no place name signs. Nowadays, it consists of about 20 houses.[4]
A fortified farm called Heemstede was first mentioned in 1323. Between 1398 and 1404, a tower was constructed, and it officially became a castle in 1536. In 1614, the castle became derelict and turned into a ruin.[5] In 1645, a manor house was built about 500 metres to the north. During World War II, it was in use as monastery. In 1971, the building was squatted, and burnt down in 1987. It was rebuilt in 1998 and served as a restaurant which went bankrupt in 2012. The estate is now private property.[6]