Leidschendam-Voorburg: Nature, Mills and Locks
Leidschendam-Voorburg can be discovered through specific places: Vlietland has nature trails, cycle paths and bridleways. The area is freely accessible all year round. The three lakes of Vlietland cover a total of around 130 hectares within the 300-hectare recreational area.
Nature
The Nieuwe Driemanspolder is a water-retention, nature and recreational area between the municipalities of Zoetermeer, Leidschendam-Voorburg and The Hague. The Leidschendammerhout offers a different landscape: an elongated nature and recreational area with wet woodland, rough grassland, reeds and ponds. It can be explored on horseback, on foot or by bicycle.
The Landgoedwandelen Leidschendam-Voorburg walking route is 10 kilometres long and can be shortened to 5 kilometres. The Vlietzone cycle route forms a circular route of approximately 13 kilometres, with the lock in Leidschendam as its starting and finishing point. In Voorburg, the Beeldenroute also passes 35 sculptures.
Culture
The two towns of Voorburg and Leidschendam preserve different historical connections. The country estate Hofwijck was designed around 1640 by Constantijn Huygens together with the architect Jacob van Campen. Its garden layout follows the contours and proportions of the human body. Hofwijck, on Stationsplein in Voorburg, is easily accessible by bus and train.
The Notarishuis Museum presents the history and culture of Voorburg and Leidschendam, including their Roman heritage and the life of Princess Marianne van Oranje. The building also houses a VVV tourist information office offering maps, town walks and cycling tours. During guided tours at the Notarishuis, you can choose topics such as Forum Hadriani or Princess Marianne.
Molen De Vlieger is a fully operational polder windmill built in 1621 in the Essesteijn polder area of Voorburg, and is now set up as a museum. A guide shows visitors around the mill and explains how it works, the miller's life and the polder landscape. It can be visited from April to October on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 13:30 to 16:30.
The lock complex of Leidschendam is a complete 19th-century lock system with a double lock chamber and two lifting bridges. It is an important part of Leidschendam's protected townscape. The Oude or Martinikerk retains a largely medieval appearance and contains elaborate tombstones of prominent residents from earlier generations. The Oude Kerk can be visited from Monday to Friday from 11:45 to 13:00; in summer, it is also open on Saturdays, including during Open Monument Day.
Water and Technology
De Antagonist was established in 1882 as a steam pumping station designed by the engineer J. Goldberg, replacing three windmills that had previously drained the Gecombineerde Starrevaart- en Damhouderpolder. The building was completely restored in 2013–2014. The STIBOM foundation's objective is to preserve the pumping station and its equipment as a museum.
De Salamander is a sawmill on the Vliet in Leidschendam. Visitors can learn about sawing logs into planks and experience the sawing process. The sawmill of De Salamander and the De Moolenmeester educational centre are wheelchair accessible. De Salamander is open every Wednesday and Saturday afternoon from 12:00 to 16:00.
The Watersportvereniging Leidschendam is a starting point, stopover or resting place for boat trips through the region. Its marina has more than 300 berths of various sizes.
Parks and Special Places
Buitengoed Dorrepaal is open to everyone who would like to explore the grounds. The estate includes a monumental villa, an animal pasture and a greenhouse complex with a tearoom.
Park Vreugd en Rust in Voorburg is freely accessible. Surrounded by greenery, visitors can stroll there and enjoy the tranquillity. The park is a former country estate with the former residence and garden of Guillaume Groen van Prinsterer.
The Leidschendam-Voorburg audio tour provides information about special places in the town centres of the municipality during a town walk. It can be completed in sections.
To the main travel overview: South Holland.
Check prices, availability and amenities for your travel dates directly on Booking.com.
View accommodation and offersAdvertisement · Affiliate link to Booking.comMore Destinations
More places within the same destination:
