Leidschendam-Voorburg () is a

municipality A municipality is usually a single administrative division having corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate. The term ''municipality'' may also mean the ...

in the western

Netherlands ) , anthem = ( en, "William of Nassau") , image_map = , map_caption = , subdivision_type = Sovereign state , subdivision_name = Kingdom of the Netherlands , established_title = Before independence , established_date = Spanish Netherl ...

, located in the

province A province is almost always an administrative division within a country or state. The term derives from the ancient Roman ''provincia'', which was the major territorial and administrative unit of the Roman Empire's territorial possessions out ...

South Holland South Holland ( nl, Zuid-Holland ) is a province of the Netherlands with a population of over 3.7 million as of October 2021 and a population density of about , making it the country's most populous province and one of the world's most densely ...

. It had a population of in , and covers an area of of which is water.

Origin

The municipality of Leidschendam-Voorburg is the result of merging the municipalities Leidschendam and Voorburg in 2002. It consists of the two towns

Leidschendam Leidschendam () is a town and former municipality in the province of South Holland of the Netherlands. Along with Voorburg and Stompwijk, it is part of the municipality Leidschendam-Voorburg. History The town's name has been in use for centuri ...

and

Voorburg Voorburg is a town and former municipality in the west part of the province of South Holland, Netherlands. Together with Leidschendam and Stompwijk, it makes up the municipality Leidschendam-Voorburg. It has a population of about 39,000 peopl ...

, which grew towards each other in the first half of the 20th century. The village

Stompwijk Stompwijk is a village in the Dutch province of South Holland. It is located between the cities Leiden and Zoetermeer and is part of the municipality of Leidschendam-Voorburg. Stompwijk was a separate municipality between 1817 and 1938, when it ...

and a hamlet called Wilsveen also belong to the municipality. Leidschendam-Voorburg abuts the city of

The Hague The Hague ( ; nl, Den Haag or ) is a city and municipality of the Netherlands, situated on the west coast facing the North Sea. The Hague is the country's administrative centre and its seat of government, and while the official capital o ...

and is often regarded as its suburb, even though it is an independent municipality. It is part of the

Haaglanden :''Parts of this article have been translated from the Dutch version of this page'' Haaglanden (, literally ''Haguelands'') was a conurbation surrounding The Hague in the Netherlands from 1992 until 2015. The city's position as the country's se ...

conurbation. Stompwijk is still a rural village, located a few kilometres northeast of Leidschendam.

Historic town centers

Both Leidschendam and Voorburg have their own historic town center, which are decentrally situated.
Historic Leidschendam lies around the ancient locks in the Vliet canal in the eastern part of the town.
About 3 kilometers to the south is the beginning of the Herenstraat, the main street of the Voorburg town center. The center of Voorburg is mainly situated between this half a kilometer long street and the Vliet. The canal also forms the eastern border of the town. The most important buildings like Swaensteyn House, the Old Church (Oude Kerk) and Hofwijck are in or very near the Herenstraat.

Mall of the Netherlands

Until 2019 the Leidschendam

shopping mall A shopping mall (or simply mall) is a North American term for a large indoor shopping center, usually Anchor tenant, anchored by department stores. The term "mall" originally meant pedestrian zone, a pedestrian promenade with shops along it (that ...

Leidsenhage was undergoing a total makeover. The new shopping area was expanded to 117.000 square meters. The center also got a new name: "Mall of the Netherlands".

Sister cities

Leidschendam-Voorburg is twinned with: The municipality was also twinned with Temecula in the United States from 1993 to 2019.

Transport

Public transport

Railway

Three railway stations are located within the municipality, providing links with all major cities in the Randstad. The main train station is

on The Hague -

Utrecht Utrecht ( , , ) is the fourth-largest city and a municipality of the Netherlands, capital and most populous city of the province of Utrecht. It is located in the eastern corner of the Randstad conurbation, in the very centre of mainland Net ...

line. This station is on the Southern edge of the town center.
There are two stations on the Rotterdam-Amsterdam line, which are situated on the border of The Hague: Den Haag Laan van NOI (for some Intercity trains and local trains) and

Den Haag Mariahoeve Den Haag Mariahoeve is a railway station on the border of The Hague and Leidschendam-Voorburg in the Netherlands. The railway station, which opened on 22 May 1966, has two side platforms and an island platform. The rail connections between Den ...

(only for local trains).

Light rail

Leidschendam-Voorburg has two stations on the

RandstadRail RandstadRail () is a light rail network in the Rotterdam–The Hague metropolitan area in the west of the Netherlands that is jointly operated by HTM Personenvervoer (HTM) and Rotterdamse Elektrische Tram (RET). It connects the cities of Ro ...

lines. RandstadRail is the official name for a light rail project connecting the cities of The Hague,

Rotterdam Rotterdam ( , , , lit. ''The Dam on the River Rotte (river), Rotte'') is the second largest List of cities in the Netherlands by province, city and List of municipalities of the Netherlands, municipality in the Netherlands. It is in the Prov ...

and Zoetermeer. These lines use former train routes, which are now converted for use by light rail vehicles.
It is a somewhat confusing name as for travelers ''RandstadRail'' is only used for tram 3 and 4 to Zoetermeer. The line to Rotterdam is exploited as a branch of the Rotterdam metro: Rotterdam metro line E. Stations in Leidschendam-Voorburg (for both trams and metro) are ''Voorburg 't Loo'' and ''Leidschendam-Voorburg''. RandstadRail also stops at ''Den Haag Laan van NOI'' train station.

Bus and tram

There are two major bus services running through this municipality. They are HTM and EBS. Several tram trajectories through Leidschendam-Voorburg - run by HTM - connect various parts of the city with each other, as well as with various neighbouring cities.

Roads

Leidschendam-Voorburg is connected to the A4 (Amsterdam - Belgian border by

) and A12 (The Hague - German border by

) motorways, which cross each other near the city center of Voorburg. The N14 dual carriageway, which connects the A4 at Leidschendam to the N44 dual carriageway at

Wassenaar Wassenaar (; population: in ) is a Municipalities of the Netherlands, municipality and Dorp (town), town located in the Provinces of the Netherlands, province of South Holland, on the western coast of the Netherlands. An affluent suburb of The ...

runs through a series of tunnels in the municipality. Together with a part of motorway A4 and several local roads the N14 forms the Ring Den Haag.

Cycle paths

Like every Dutch municipality, Leidschendam-Voorburg provides a wide range of facilities for cyclers. As an example, on the eastern edge, there are two large cycle bridges that cross different roads and ditches.

Notable people

Public thinking & Public Service

* Jan van Valckenborgh (ca.1575 in Voorburg − 1624) a military engineer who built fortresses * Barbera van Meerten-Schilperoort (1778 in Geestbrug – 1853) a Dutch women's rights activist *

Guillaume Groen van Prinsterer Guillaume Groen van Prinsterer (21 August 1801 – 19 May 1876), was a Dutch politician and historian; he was born in Voorburg, near The Hague. Overview Groen is a Dutch historical icon. He was an educated and devout man of the Dutch middle c ...

(1801 in Voorburg – 1876) a Dutch politician and historian * Jacobus Aarden (1914-1997) lived much of his life and died in Voorburg. A member of the municipal council of Voorburg for 20 years, member of House of Representatives *

Willem Scholten Willem Scholten (1 June 1927 – 1 January 2005) was a Dutch politician of the defunct Christian Historical Union (CHU) party and later the Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA) party and economist. He was granted the honorary title of Minister of ...

(1927 – 2005 in Leidschendam) a politician, held several ministerial offices * Jan Broekman (born 1931 in Voorburg) a philosopher,

legal Law is a set of rules that are created and are law enforcement, enforceable by social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior,Robertson, ''Crimes against humanity'', 90. with its precise definition a matter of longstanding debate. ...

and social scientist, lives in Belgium *

Theo van Boven Theodoor Cornelis (Theo) van Boven (born 16 May 1934, Voorburg) is a Dutch jurist and professor emeritus in international law. In 1977, he was appointed director of the United Nations' Division for Human Rights, a precursor of the UN Human Right ...

(born 1934 in Voorburg) a jurist and

professor emeritus ''Emeritus'' (; female: ''emerita'') is an adjective used to designate a retired chair, professor, pastor, bishop, pope, director, president, prime minister, rabbi, emperor, or other person who has been "permitted to retain as an honorary title ...

international law International law (also known as public international law and the law of nations) is the set of rules, norms, and standards generally recognized as binding between states. It establishes normative guidelines and a common conceptual framework for ...

Jan de Leeuw Jan de Leeuw (born December 19, 1945) is a Dutch statistician and psychometrician. He is distinguished professor emeritus of statistics and founding chair of the Department of Statistics, University of California, Los Angeles. In addition, he is t ...

(born 1945 in Voorburg) a Dutch statistician,

psychometrician Psychometrics is a field of study within psychology concerned with the theory and technique of measurement. Psychometrics generally refers to specialized fields within psychology and education devoted to testing, measurement, assessment, an ...

and academic * Johannes Willibrordus Maria Hendriks (born 1954 in Leidschendam) the Auxiliary Bishop-elect of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Haarlem-Amsterdam since 2011 * Maxime Verhagen (born 1956) a retired Dutch politician,

Deputy Prime Minister A deputy prime minister or vice prime minister is, in some countries, a government minister who can take the position of acting prime minister when the prime minister is temporarily absent. The position is often likened to that of a vice president, ...

2010/2012, lives in Voorburg * Father Roderick Vonhögen (born 1968 in Leidschendam) a Roman Catholic priest, podcaster and

new media New media describes communication technologies that enable or enhance interaction between users as well as interaction between users and content. In the middle of the 1990s, the phrase "new media" became widely used as part of a sales pitch for ...

producer * Carla Dik-Faber (born 1971 in Voorburg) a Dutch art historian and politician

The Arts

* Jacob Elias la Fargue (1735–1778) & Karel la Fargue (1738–1793), brothers and painters *

Marcellus Emants Marcellus Emants (12 August 1848 – 14 October 1923) was a Dutch novelist whose work is considered one of the few examples of Dutch Naturalism. His writing is seen as a first step towards the renewing force of the Tachtigers towards modern Dut ...

(1848 in Voorburg – 1923) a Dutch naturalist novelist * Cornelis Rol (1877-1963) a Dutch graphic artist, painter, lithographer and illustrator; lived and worked in Voorburg from 1929 *

Willem van Genk Willem van Genk (April 2, 1927 – May 12, 2005) was a Dutch painter and graphic artist, celebrated as one of the leading masters of Outsider Art. Throughout his life he lived with severe mental distress, experiencing symptoms related to autism an ...

(1927 in Voorburg – 2005) a Dutch painter and graphic artist of Outsider Art * Xander de Buisonjé (born 1973 in Voorburg) a Dutch singer and TV presenter *

Hans van Hemert Hans van Hemert (born 7 April 1945 in Voorburg, Netherlands) is a Dutch ASCAP award-winning record producer and songwriter. Mouth & MacNeal and Luv' are among the pop acts he produced. He also composed three songs for the Eurovision Song Conte ...

(born 1945 in Voorburg) a Dutch record producer and songwriter *

Toon Verhoef Anthonie Wilhelmus (Toon) Verhoef (born Voorburg, October 17, 1946) is a Dutch painter, ceramist and art lecturer. Biography Verhoef attended the Rijksakademie in Amsterdam in 1965-1966, and studied art history at the University of South Afric ...

(born 1946 in Voorburg) a Dutch painter, ceramist and art lecturer *

Johan de Meij Johannes Abraham "Johan" de Meij (; born November 23, 1953 in Voorburg) is a Dutch conductor, trombonist, and composer, best known for his '' Symphony No. 1'' for wind ensemble, nicknamed ''The Lord of the Rings'' symphony. Biography Johan de ...

(born 1953 in Voorburg) a Dutch conductor, trombonist and composer *

Frans Schrofer Frans Schrofer (born 15 August 1956) is a Dutch furniture designer and industrial designer based in The Hague, Netherlands. He received a technical education in Leiden and then studied at the Design Academy Eindhoven, graduating in 1983 and foundin ...

(born 1956 in Voorburg) a Dutch furniture designer and industrial designer *

Ariane Schluter Ariane Schluter (born 1 February 1966) is a Dutch actress. She is best known for playing in films by such Dutch filmmakers as Alex van Warmerdam and Theo van Gogh. Career Ariane Schluter studied at the Maastricht Academy of Dramatic Arts. Af ...

(born 1966 in Voorburg) a Dutch film actress IMDb Database
retrieved 24 December 2019

Sport

* Bertha Brouwer (1930 in Leidschendam – 2006) a Dutch sprinter, silver medallist at the

1952 Summer Olympics The 1952 Summer Olympics ( fi, Kesäolympialaiset 1952; sv, Olympiska sommarspelen 1952), officially known as the Games of the XV Olympiad ( fi, XV olympiadin kisat; sv, Den XV olympiadens spel) and commonly known as Helsinki 1952 ( sv, Helsin ...

* Christiaan van Velzen (born 1932 in Voorburg) a retired Dutch shooter, competed at the

1980 Summer Olympics The 1980 Summer Olympics (russian: Летние Олимпийские игры 1980, Letniye Olimpiyskiye igry 1980), officially known as the Games of the XXII Olympiad (russian: Игры XXII Олимпиады, Igry XXII Olimpiady) and commo ...

Gerben Karstens Gerben Karstens (14 January 1942 – 8 October 2022) was a Dutch professional racing cyclist, who won the gold medal in the 100 km team trial at the 1964 Summer Olympics, alongside Bart Zoet, Evert Dolman, and Jan Pieterse. At the same ...

(born 1942 in Voorburg) a former professional racing cyclist, won a team gold medal at the

1964 Summer Olympics The , officially the and commonly known as Tokyo 1964 ( ja, 東京1964), were an international multi-sport event held from 10 to 24 October 1964 in Tokyo, Japan. Tokyo had been awarded the organization of the 1940 Summer Olympics, but this h ...

* André Stafleu (born 1955 in Leidschendam) a retired Dutch footballer with over 350 club caps *

Peter Blangé Peter Blangé (born 9 December 1964 in Voorburg, South Holland) is a retired volleyball player from the Netherlands, who represented his native country in four consecutive Summer Olympics, starting in 1988 in Seoul, South Korea Seoul (; ; ...

(born 1964 in Voorburg) a retired volleyball player, team silver and gold medallist in the

1992 File:1992 Events Collage V1.png, From left, clockwise: Riots break out across Los Angeles, California after the police beating of Rodney King; El Al Flight 1862 crashes into a residential apartment building in Amsterdam after two of its engin ...

and

1996 Summer Olympics The 1996 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the XXVI Olympiad, also known as Atlanta 1996 and commonly referred to as the Centennial Olympic Games) were an international multi-sport event held from July 19 to August 4, 1996, in Atlanta, ...

Edwin Vurens Edwin Vurens (born 6 June 1968) is a Dutch football manager who coaches Dutch amateur side Docos. Vurens is a former international player who played professionally as a striker for clubs in the Netherlands and Switzerland. Football career Playi ...

(born 1968 in Stompwijk) a Dutch football manager and former international player with 268 club caps * Maurits Crucq (born 1968 in Voorburg) a former field hockey defender, team bronze and gold medallist in the 1988 and

* Maarten van der Linden (born 1969 in Voorburg) a former rower, team silver medallist at the

Sander van Gessel Sander Branko van Gessel (born November 4, 1976 in Leidschendam, South Holland) is a Dutch footballer. Career He started his professional career in the 1995–1996 season playing for FC Groningen. He later served SC Heerenveen, NAC Breda and Sp ...

(born 1976 in Leidschendam) a Dutch footballer with 280 club caps * Pascal Matla (born 1981 in Leidschendam) a former American football player, grew up in Voorburg *

Daan van Bunge Daan Lodewijk Samuel van Bunge (born 19 October 1982), commonly as Daan van Bunge, is a Dutch cricketer. He is a right-handed batsman and a right-arm leg break bowler. He is the currently Director of Cricket at Haileybury in the UK. He also wo ...

(born 1982 in Voorburg) a Dutch cricketer *

Cees Juffermans Cees Juffermans (born 10 February 1982) is a former Dutch Short track speed skater. Currently he is a marathon speed skater. Juffermans is one of the most renowned short track speed skaters the Netherlands has ever produced. At the 2001 Europe ...

(born 1982) is a former Dutch short track speed skater, competed at the

2002 File:2002 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The 2002 Winter Olympics are held in Salt Lake City; Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother and her daughter Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon die; East Timor gains East Timor independence, indepe ...

and

2006 Winter Olympics The 2006 Winter Olympics, officially the XX Olympic Winter Games ( it, XX Giochi olimpici invernali) and also known as Torino 2006, were a winter multi-sport event held from 10 to 26 February 2006 in Turin, Italy. This marked the second ...

* Eljero Elia (born 1987 in Voorburg) a Dutch footballer with over 300 club caps * Darius van Driel (born 1989 in Leidschendam) a Dutch professional golfer who plays on the Challenge Tour *

Daryl Janmaat Daryl Janmaat (born 22 July 1989) is a Dutch professional football official and a former player who played as a right back. He is the technical director of ADO Den Haag. He began his career at ADO Den Haag, and went on to play for the Eredivisie ...

(born 1989 in Leidschendam) a professional footballer with over 300 club caps * Inge Janssen (born 1989 in Voorburg) a Dutch rower, team silver medallist at the

2016 Summer Olympics ) , nations = 207 (including IOA and EOR teams) , athletes = 11,238 , events = 306 in 28 sports (41 disciplines) , opening = 5 August 2016 , closing = 21 August 2016 , opened_by = Vice President Michel Temer , cauldron = Vanderlei Cordeiro de ...

Gallery

File:View on Leidschendam.jpg, Along The Vliet in Leidschendam File:Leidschendam, De Drie Molens RM25724 tm6 IMG 0382 2019-07-01 11.20.jpg, Leidschendam, windmills: the Molendriegang File:Netherlands, Leidschendam-Voorburg, Meerburger Watering.JPG, Leidschendam-Voorburg, Meerburger Watering File:Stompwijk, de Sint-Laurentiuskerk langs de Stompwijkse Vaart RM510315 IMG 0411 2019-07-01 12.05.jpg, Stompwijk, church (the Sint-Laurentiuskerk) along the canal (the Stompwijkse Vaart) File:Watertoren Voorburg.jpg, Watertoren Voorburg, 1900

References

External links

Official website
{{Authority control Municipalities of South Holland Populated places in South Holland Municipalities of the Netherlands established in 2002