Discover Poeldijk: History and Culture

Poeldijk combines the history of a waterside village with traces of the past and a range of leisure activities. The village developed along the northern dike of the Gantel. Since 1970, the Gantel has been used for recreational purposes. The area around Poeldijk consisted of peat layers that formed fertile soil for greenhouse horticulture. The connection to the river and the soil conditions thus link the village’s origins with its horticultural history.

Holiday apartment in Poeldijk surrounded by history

Torenzicht is one example of Poeldijk’s architectural heritage. The building was constructed in 1914 as a classical manor house with recognisable Art Nouveau elements and has been a municipal monument since 2013. Torenzicht takes its name from the eponymous castle-like country estate that had stood at this location between the Gantel and Wateringseweg since 1723.

The De Arckelsteijn farmstead is also one of Poeldijk’s historical traces. It dates from 1717 and is a longhouse-style building. The Poeldijk–Wateringseweg archaeological site also contains remains of a Roman villa complex and a settlement of local inhabitants. Torenzicht and De Arckelsteijn represent different architectural forms: a manor house and a longhouse.

Cultural attractions around Poeldijk

The parish of H. Bartholomeus is also part of the village’s history. Its history goes back to the naming of the Poeldijk chapel after Saint Bartholomew in 1252. The auction building at Monsterseweg 6 in Poeldijk offers another insight into the area’s economic past. It is the only surviving auction hall from the heyday of horticulture in the 1920s and 1930s. Those who explore the village from a historical perspective encounter both the history of the parish and the development of horticulture here. The historical arc therefore stretches from the chapel of 1252 to the horticultural era of the 1920s and 1930s.

The Haags Gemeentemuseum and the Fotomuseum Den Haag are located around Poeldijk. Binnenhof, a castle, is also located nearby. The ancient site of Arentsburg is likewise situated in the vicinity of Poeldijk. For those interested in culture, the area around Poeldijk therefore offers museums, a castle and an ancient site.

More attractions around Poeldijk

Madestein and Solleveld are located in the immediate vicinity of Poeldijk. Zuiderpark and Wilhelminapark are also located nearby. Madestein and Solleveld are part of Poeldijk’s immediate surroundings, while Zuiderpark and Wilhelminapark are located in the area around the village.

Active leisure activities in Poeldijk

For active leisure, Van der Ende Racing & Fun in Poeldijk offers go-karting for recreational athletes. Lasertag and various team games are also available there. These leisure activities complement the village’s historical and cultural attractions with active pursuits.

You can also discover Ter Heijde, De Lier, 'S-Gravenzande and Naaldwijk.

To the main travel overview: Westland.