The country house served primarily as a summer residence for the owner. He could then temporarily leave his canal house in Amsterdam to enjoy the outdoor life. Much more pleasant than the city where canals served as open sewers and were extremely smelly in summer.
But the outdoors also served to show off. Often, the owner surrounded himself with coats of arms and attributes that had to add lustre to the story of his origin. The outdoors was also the place for receptions of people from the merchant's circle or from the literary and artistic circles. Amsterdam's merchant elite also determined the city's political and social life. A representative place emphasised your social status as an Amsterdam regent.
