Hillegom: Holiday Apartments and Holiday Homes

Hillegom combines the open landscape of the bulb fields with a historic village center and varied routes through polders, dunes, and forests. In spring, the open bulb fields form a flowering landscape that attracts visitors. The Bloemencorso Bollenstreek creates a special connection to the region’s floral tradition: in Hillegom, there is a grandstand from which visitors can watch the flower parade. This grandstand is 1.5 kilometers, or approximately a 20-minute walk, from Hillegom railway station.

Culture and History

Hillegom originated in the early Middle Ages around the Maartenskerk, the Hof van Hillegom, and the Houttuin. The medieval Hof van Hillegom is a Heerlijkheid, a fine example of an estate, and served as a resting place for the Counts of Holland. The village’s historic main axis is the Hoofdstraat. The first uses and buildings developed along this street. Hillegom’s built heritage includes Rijksmonumenten, municipal monuments, and characteristic buildings.

The Houttuin forms Hillegom’s central square and is officially called Kerkplein. The Grote Pomp has stood at its center since 1740. The protected villagescape of Kerkplein includes the Klokgeveltje and the Schoutenhuis; both are Rijksmonumenten. The Klokgeveltje is one of the oldest buildings in the village and is mentioned as early as 1634. The Schoutenhuis was built or remodeled in 1810 by Jan Huijser.

Nature

The Vosse- en Weerlanerpolder is a more than 20-hectare marsh meadow area with over 200 plant species. Between sunrise and sunset, visitors may walk freely on the roads and paths there. The Lokhorsterduin offers a different landscape impression: a dune area consisting of windblown sand and middle dunes. There, the excavated landscape with bulb fields and the high dune forest are still clearly visible side by side. The Lokhorsterduin is a small hiking area with three entrances to this forest.

The Heemtuin Hillegom also showcases a characteristic natural environment. It consists largely of swamp forest on waterlogged ground. On Sundays, volunteers provide information about native plants, shrubs, and trees. The landscapes therefore range from open marsh meadow areas and waterlogged swamp forest to the combination of dune forest and bulb fields.

Routes

The Bollenstreek walking network comprises more than 100 kilometers of paths through green meadows and colorful bulb fields. Bridges, cable ferries, and stiles are part of its route system and enable hikers to cross fields, meadows, and bulb fields. Rondje Hillegom comprises four walking routes that connect the village’s parks.

The Bollen en zand route is 6 kilometers long and takes about two hours; it includes a crossing by ferry. The Bollen en zand walking route near De Zilk and Hillegom runs along bulb fields and the Leidsevaart. The bulb fields can be reached on foot or by OV-Fiets from Hillegom railway station.

More Experiences

During the flowering season, visitors can view the bulb fields from the water aboard the Hillegomse Bollenboot. The boat trip is led by an experienced captain who talks about the region. On land, electric scooters offer another way to get around: at E-scooterverhuur Bollenstreek in Hillegom, electric scooters can be rented for a day and individual routes can be chosen.

Sportfondsen De Vosse has a leisure pool, a spray park, and a slide. At Brouwerij Klein Duimpje, visitors can take part in a brewery tour; additional packages and tastings are also available. Hillegom is also described as the place where today’s Bollenstreek originated.

More pages about the area: Hillegom, Hillegom.

To the higher-level travel overview: South Holland.

More Destinations

More places within the same destination:

Rozenburg, Dordrecht, Zederik, Papendrecht, Teylingen, Zuidplas.