after he became a widower, huygens bought land on the vliet in voorburg with plans to build a summer home. at the time it was quite fashionable to have a summer home on a river or canal, and old maps of voorburg show hofwijck as one of many. the building itself and the gardens (originally on both sides of the vliet) were designed by huygens himself in cooperation with the architect jacob van campen. the estate was to be "a harmonious piece of paradise on earth, with a garden in god’s image and likeness." huygens was very much inspired by the works of classical roman architect vitruvius. pieter post was in charge of the actual building activities.