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Homestead De Aar
from high quality model dairy farm to bowling & party center

Homestead De Aar Homestead De Aar is designed by Cornelis van der Velden. At the time he was an architect working for the Dutch state mines. The building is set up as a model farm in 1930. At the official opening there was even a royal guest, prince Hendrik, as shown in the picture on the right. There are more dignitaries in the picture, for example the mayor of Heerlen, M. van Grunsven, the Commissioner of the Queen, baron van Hövell tot Westerflier, and the owner of the homestead, ir. Dinger. The homestead was designed as a high quality model dairy farm, the only of its kind in Zuid-Limburg, as you can read in the advertisement below from the thirties. De Aar supplied the Vroedvrouwenschool (midwife school) and the hospital of Heerlen with milk at that time. The model farm got his name Aar or 'Oar', wich means 'source' or 'waterway', from a water source that once sprang there and ended in the Geleenbeek. Homestead De Aar was until the beginning of the sixties owned by the Dinger family.

Opening homestead De Aar1, 1930 On the front row, left to right: ing. H. v.d. Voort, M. van Grunsven (mayor of Heerlen), baron van Hövell tot Westerflier (Commissioner of the Queen in Limburg) and prince Hendrik. Top row, left to right: ir. C.P.E.M. Raedts, mr. Onland (lawyer), dhr. Kneepkens, dr. Duysens (veterinarian), ir. Dinger (owner homestead De Aar), ir. Koster and dhr. Grond.

Advertisement homestead De Aar², thirties

Big change
In 1969 the municipality of Heerlen claimed the homestead De Aar, at the time owned by the Gielkens family, and the grounds belonging to the farm in the Welten district. The grounds were needed for the construction of highways and urban developments. In the beginning of the seventies the current N281 was construted, running just passed the homestead.
In 1989 the municipality of Heerlen told the Gielkens family they wanted to get rid of the homestead. The municipality was confronted with high maintenance costs. They pushed the family to buy the homestead back and this is how homestead De Aar came back into the hands of the Gielkens family, but without the grounds around it, that once belonged to the homestead.

Aerial photo homestead De Aar1, 1952
Aerial photo homestead De Aar1 during construction of the highway, begin seventies	Aerial photo homestead De Aar1 after construction of the highway, 1976

Current destination The homestead was converted into a party and bowling center since the farm couldn't exist anymore at the current location. Unfortunately this didn't work out in the long run and in the year 2000 homestead De Aar was almost bankrupt. The bowling alleys were worn out, the concept was old-fashioned and the homestead fell into disrepair. Entrepreneur Eugène Driessen from Heerlen saw potential in the unique model farm an decided to buy the bowling center. He invested millions and renovated the entire homestead. Because of his efforts Bowling & Partyhoeve De Aar is again well known in this region.

Bowling alleys at homestead De Aar3

About the geocache • Pen en paper might be handy. • All information can be found at WP1. • Search only for this geocache during daylight hours. • Search only for this geocache with proper climbing equipment. • It is NOT allowed to pull someone up in to the tree. This is very harmful to the tree and this is not intended! Respect nature. • Logging this geocache is your own responsibility. Please mind your own safety! It is not necessary to log every geocache. • Pictures of your activities are highly appreciated.

References:
1. Rijckheyt
2. Het land van herle
3. VVV Zuid-Limburg