Municipal Park the Warande

The former hunting grounds of the Lord of Helmond on the west side of Helmond, that is De Warande city park. But hunting no longer takes place here: today De Warande is a public walking and recreational park. In the summer there are concerts here, and the park also has an animal meadow. Here you will also find the grave of the Wesselman family. And there's more history. Because the striking white villa (called: Peapark) of the unruly textile baron Piet de Wit was also located in this park. There are now still some remains in the animal pasture. 

Imagine: a villa with 45 rooms, a 27 meter high tower, a foundation of eight meters deep, stately stairs, landings, a garage, a coach house, pergolas, ponds and fountains. Do you see it in your mind? That was what Piet de Wit had built here for his wife (and ex-housekeeper) Anna. Money flowed faster than water for Piet, and he eventually went bankrupt. His impressive villa was demolished by the new owner (metal manufacturer Van Thiel). And not with a wrecking ball, no, the genius had to come and blow up the villa with dynamite: BOOM! Do you see those concrete blocks at the Zoo in the Warande Park? They still come from that white villa.