Village in the Gooi, possibly already created in the 8th century at a crossroads of roads. Laren is mentioned for the first time in 1306. A 12th century chapel was replaced around 1300 by a St. John's Church located outside the village; the remaining St. Janskerkhof became known as a pilgrimage site.
The village developed further with building clusters at Oostereind, Zeveneind and Klein Laren, and with a spacious Brink with pond as center. The farms and later day laborers and weavers' houses were apparently randomly situated on irregularly shaped yards. In the 19th century the weaving activities moved to Hilversum.
Via the Gooische Stoomtram Laren got a connection with Amsterdam in 1882 (abolished 1939). Laren and the surrounding area became attracted by rentiers and commuters. Various artists, including Anton Mauve, settled here. The meeting center of the so-called Laren School was the 'Hotel Hamdorff' on the Brink, opened in 1901 by hotelier and art dealer J. Hamdorff (demolished 1979). Laren developed into a commuter village. The first residential area arose after 1900 on the north side. From around 1905 the village continued to grow on the west side and after 1920 on the south-west and south side. The Nieuweweg was built in the village center. After the Second World War, Laren continued to grow, on the east side to the provincial border. Laren is a protected village.
