Voorschoten

Voorschoten
Municipality
Kloosterkapel in Voorschoten

Flag
Coat of arms
Highlighted position of Voorschoten in a municipal map of South Holland
Location in South Holland
Coordinates: 52°8′N 4°27′E / 52.133°N 4.450°E / 52.133; 4.450Coordinates: 52°8′N 4°27′E / 52.133°N 4.450°E / 52.133; 4.450
Country Netherlands
Province South Holland
Government[1]
 • Body Municipal council
 • Mayor Pauline Bouvy-Koene (VVD)
Area[2]
 • Total 11.56 km2 (4.46 sq mi)
 • Land 11.16 km2 (4.31 sq mi)
 • Water 0.40 km2 (0.15 sq mi)
Elevation[3] 0 m (0 ft)
Population (August 2017)[4]
 • Total 25,422
 • Density 2,278/km2 (5,900/sq mi)
Demonym(s) Voorschotenaar
Time zone UTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST) UTC+2 (CEST)
Postcode 2250–2254
Area code 071
Website www.voorschoten.nl

Voorschoten ([ˈvoːrsxoːtə(n)] ( listen); population: 25,422 in 2017) is a village and municipality in the western Netherlands, in the province of South Holland. It is a smaller town in the Randstad, enclosed by the cities of Leiden, Wassenaar and The Hague. The municipality covers an area of 11.56 km2 (4.46 sq mi) of which 0.40 km2 (0.15 sq mi) is covered by water. Recently, plans to merge into one municipality with Wassenaar have been introduced.

The town is relatively affluent, and the majority of Voorschoten's population are commuters, generally to either the Hague or Leiden. Despite the fact that it is situated in one of the most densely populated areas in the Netherlands, and, indeed, the world, the town retains a strong, independent identity and village-like atmosphere. Several buildings of historical importance are situated in Voorschoten. For example, the old Castle Duivenvoorde, and the Manor Vredenhof - rebuilt by Diederik Jansz. Graeff, and until the 18th century in the hands from the De Graeff family - are located in or near Voorschoten.

The town's proximity to the Hague, as well as the presence of the British School in the Netherlands [5] in the town, and the American School of the Hague in nearby Wassenaar, means that Voorschoten has a large community of expatriates, particularly British nationals.

In recent years, the settlement has seen considerable expansion, with the addition of several new areas of housing, such as Starrenburg, Krimwijk II and, most recently, Voorsche Park. The town benefits from excellent sporting and recreational facilities, including hockey, football and baseball clubs, a tennis club, a swimming pool and a golf course. There are a number of churches located throughout the town, the two most striking of which are the main church, located in Voorschoten's historic centre, and the St. Laurentius Church, located in the north of the town.

Local government

The municipal council of Voorschoten consists of 21 seats, which are divided as follows (from the most recent election results in 2018 ):

Topography

Dutch topographic map of the kei-old municipality of Voorschoten, June 2015

Public transportation

Voorschoten has excellent public transport links to the rest of the Randstad. The Voorschoten railway station, is situated on the Amsterdam–Rotterdam railway, and trains run regularly in the direction of the Hague and Amsterdam.

References

  1. ↑ "Bestuur en Organisatie" [Management and organisation] (in Dutch). Gemeente Voorschoten. Retrieved 25 August 2013.
  2. ↑ "Kerncijfers wijken en buurten" [Key figures for neighbourhoods]. CBS Statline (in Dutch). CBS. 2 July 2013. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
  3. ↑ "Postcodetool for 2252LA". Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland (in Dutch). Het Waterschapshuis. Retrieved 25 August 2013.
  4. ↑ "Bevolkingsontwikkeling; regio per maand" [Population growth; regions per month]. CBS Statline (in Dutch). CBS. 27 October 2017. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
  5. ↑ The British School in The Netherlands
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