Agnes Block

As well as the main house and outbuildings, there were orchards, ornamental and kitchen gardens, avenues, ponds and an orangery. Block grew all kinds of plants and flowers, and exchanged the seeds of exotic varieties with botanists around the globe. She approached the cultivation of plants with scientific precision, studying the professional literature in various languages and maintaining detailed documentation of her collection. Block was the first botanist in the Dutch Republic to successfully grow a pineapple. Following this notable achievement she appeared in numerous portraits with a pineapple. She also commissioned various artists, including Alida Withoos, to make hundreds of watercolours of her flowers and birds.