Before 1850, any expansion of the small village of Hilversum was still left to chance. Property boundaries often determined where was built, resulting in ribbon development along the roads. With the passage of the 1851 Municipalities Act, the government gained greater influence over building designs and actual construction. Initially, mainly municipal superintendents contributed to spatial development, followed shortly thereafter by enterprising private architects. Municipal architects played a leading role only later. But who were the architects of the buildings built in Hilversum between 1850 and 1915? Together, they determined the new image of Hilversum, an image that has cohesion despite individual stylistic differences, and is largely still intact. Twenty architects are discussed in Hilversum 1. Their lives and works are described in detail.