Promo | Along the architecture of H.J. Jesse in Oegstgeest.

Architect in Oegstgeest

HENDRIK JOHANNES JESSE (10 JULY 1860 – 11 FEBRUARY 1943)

I look back with pride and admiration on the life and work of my grandfather HJ Jesse, who, as an architect, left an indelible mark on the villages and towns in our region. His distinctive style—with detailed fair-faced brickwork, rounded arches, and a keen eye for light, air, and space—makes his work still recognizable and unique. He designed in various styles, always with meticulous precision—his extensive archive at the Nieuwe Instituut in Rotterdam (Museum of Architecture, Design, and Digital Culture) is proof of this.

His work in Oegstgeest takes center stage in this route. This is no coincidence: with nearly 300 designs, including many in Oegstgeest, Leiden, and Katwijk, HJ Jesse has left a lasting mark on this region. That is why it is fitting that this cycling and walking route connects with the HJ Jesse cycling tour of Katwijk.

It is good that attention is now being paid to this versatile architect in Oegstgeest. His work in the Dutch Neo-Renaissance style, with influences from classical antiquity such as columns, pediments, and ornaments, continues to inspire. But above all, HJ Jesse was a designer who understood his time and dared to innovate, with the Rationalist style being widely used in Oegstgeest.

This route, initiated by Dorpsmarketing Oegstgeest, is a tribute to his vision, craftsmanship, and love for architecture. I hope that you will be moved by his work while walking and cycling. There is much more to say and describe about his work, but that would of course turn this into an entire book—and those exist too. For this route, a selection of several buildings has been made in close collaboration with the Jesse Foundation.

With kind regards,
Anneke Jesse

Routemap ▲