English information

History
Laren is a small village in the region Gooi. Eight thousand years ago prehistoric nomads from nothern parts of Europe settled on the moors which was the beginning of Laren. You still can find their burial mounds when walking on the moors around modern Laren. Through the years, many different people lived here: Celts, Germans, Saxons etc. Many historic farmhouses in Laren remind of the traditional building techniques these people introduced here. The village has been built around a small wading place where the cattle (mainly sheep) of the local farmers came for drenching. This pool is called ’Coeswaerde’ and with the fountain in the middle, it is still the place where the local people meet on important days.
Art village
Around 1900 many artists settled in Laren. The American couple William and Anna Singer settled in the village and were the spirit of the artistic colony. Many famous artists painted local scenes of life and nature: Albert Neuhuys,Tony Offermans and Anton Mauve. They are called the ’Laren school of painters’.
Modern Laren Today, Laren is a modern village with many historical buildings from different centuries. Laren has good quality shops, many art galleries, a theater and two museums. Laren is also known for its jazz festivals.
Accommodation
There is no accommodation for visitors in Laren itself. The nearest hotel is Hotel De Witte Bergen, Rijksweg 2, 3755 MV Eemnes, t. 035-539 58 00.
There are also hotels in Hilversum and Huizen.
Art on the Brink/Art Laren
Will be happening on Thursday 4 June until Sunday 7 June 2009.It is a yearly happening of more then 30 selected art galeries which is being organised by Stichting Fundraising Kiwanis.
Historical Centre
To get more information on the history of Laren one can visit the Historisch Centrum in a old farmhouse ‘De Lindenhoeve’ Burg. Van Nispenstraat 29