Farms

Co Breman: View of Blaricum, 1899

In ’t Gooi almost all farms are of the long house type (hallehuis). In its most elemental form its layout is a rectangle with low walls and a high-pitched roof spreading down to short sides. It is a frame house with a skeleton made of wood.

The pictures show some basic principles of the wooden skeleton used; H-frames with diagonal braces or "corbels" (korbeel).

The wooden skeleton is proving the strength of the complete building.

Anchor beam posts with horizontal anchor beams and braces

The walls are non-load bearing. Originally they were made of twisted twigs and clay; often also straw was added. Such wall provided a good protection against the weather, but its construction was not suitable to carry a heavy load. For that reason the whole weight of the roof had to be carried by the wooden skeleton. In the beginning of the 19th century the more expensive bricks became more popular as construction material for the walls.

An example of the most simple farm is shown below. There is no separating wall between the space using for farming (deel), sty (varkensstal), stable (stal) and the living room (woonhuis).

Simple farm ("los hoes")

A later development is the long house in which the hay was stacked inside in the centre of the building (the "tas"). Doors were made at the side of the building for easier access. The living was separated by a wall.

Example of a typical farm house.

Many farm houses have been preserved in Blaricum and are still being used as such, but the majority of them have now been converted into large villa's.

---------- Hay barracks ----------

The hay barrack is a farm structure consisting of vertical poles supporting a movable roof under which hay or other crops can be stored. The wooden barrack is already very old as can be seen from many old paintings. Below some examples.

Painting by Hendrik Averkamp, ca. 1620.

Etching by Rembrandt, 1650

Painting by Jacob van Ruysdael, 1650

Hay barracks can be categorised by the number of poles applied, varying from 1 to 6. In Blaricum the number of poles varies from 2 to 5.

Another difference is the base of the hay barrack. It can be at ground level or a moveable base or elevated base to keep the hay off the ground. In the latter case the space underneath is often used for storage of goods or cattle.

In Blaricum there are still many hay barracks although their number has reduced considerably. In 1940 the were more than 70, but currently that number has been reduced by 50 percent. It is unique that there are still so many of them in the village centre.
People now realise that action needs to be taken to preserve them. Below some examples of the various types.

A 4-pole barrack with wooden poles and straw roof on the Eemnesserweg.
This hay barrack is approx. 75 years old and is a state monument.

A 5-pole hay barrack with concrete poles and straw roof on the "Fransche pad"

A 3-pole hay barrack with steel poles and pentagonal roof on the Stachouwerweg

A 4-pole hay barrack with steel poles and roof

A 3-poles hay barrack with steel poles and hexagonal roof.The hay barrack was built by smithy Van de Bergh in 1935. Below a close-up of the weathercock by Van den Bergh, a farmer with horse.