Protected rural area of Griendtsveen

The picturesque village of Griendtsveen was founded in the late 19th century and still breathes the atmosphere of days gone by. Canals and drawbridges, an old village pump, protected original houses and the old Van de Griendt Villa keep the memory of the past alive. Rightfully a protected rural area.

Jan van de Griendt, founder of Helenaveen, had 2 sons, Jozef and Eduard. Jozef succeeded his father in 1884 as director of 'Helenaveen Company'. After a conflict with the company's commissaries, he decided to buy peat moorland from Horst municipality. In January 1885, he bought 410 ha of peat from the village of Horst for what is now € 59,899. Together with Eduard, he in 1885 founded the 'Griendtsveen Company', starting exploitation of two peat dust factories in Griendtsveen. 

The village of Griendtsveen was established in consequence to their business activities. Right away, in 1885, the first workers’ sheds and houses were built. These all were of really poor quality. A truck system and a cafe were set up by the Company three years later. 

In 1899, the 'N.V. Maatschappij Van de Griendt's Landexploitatie' was founded. As the economic base of the colony broadened, the company management became interested in ensuring itself of a good source of income by considerably expanding the village. Jozef van de Griendt died in 1917. Eduard died in 1935, and was succeeded by his son Jan, who died in 1967. His successor, Jan Junior', would be the Company's last director. Griendtsveen Company is eventually caught up by the damage caused by World War II. The beloved village of Griendtsveen was to be sold piece by piece to Horst municipality.