Alphen aan den Rijn Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Alphen aan den Rijn

The older former city hall

Flag	Coat of arms

Location in South Holland

Government

• Body

Municipal council

Area

• Total

132.49 km² (51.15 sq mi)

• Land

126.58 km² (48.87 sq mi)

• Water

5.91 km² (2.28 sq mi)

Elevation

2 m (7 ft)

Population

(May 2014)

• Total

107,117

• Density

846/km² (2,190/sq mi)

Demonym(s)

Alphenaar

Time zone

UTC+1 (CET)

• Summer (DST)

UTC+2 (CEST)

Postcode

2390–2409, 2445, 2470–2471, 2730–2731, 2770–2771

Area code

0172

Topographic map of Alphen aan den Rijn (town), Sept. 2014

Alphen aan den Rijn is a city and a municipality in the western Netherlands. It is part of the South Holland province. The city is located on the banks of the Oude Rijn (Old Rhine) river. This is also where the Gouwe river branches off.

The municipality of Alphen aan den Rijn is home to about data missing people. It covers an area of 132.49 km² (51.15 sq mi). A small part of this area is water. The municipality also includes the towns of Aarlanderveen, Zwammerdam, and Boskoop.

Alphen aan den Rijn is in a special area called the 'Green Heart' of the Netherlands. This area is less crowded than the big cities around it. The name "Alphen" likely comes from the old Roman fort called Albaniana. This name means "settlement at the white water." You can still find remains of this Roman fort under the city center today.

History of Alphen aan den Rijn
People Living in Alphen aan den Rijn
Fun Things to Do in Alphen aan den Rijn
Exciting Events
Getting Around: Public Transport
Economy
Famous People from Alphen aan den Rijn
- Sports Stars
Images for kids
See also

History of Alphen aan den Rijn

Map showing Albanianis (in the centre, just above the 'T' of Patabus) in the Tabula Peutingeriana.

People have lived in the area around Alphen aan den Rijn for 2,000 years. During the time of the Roman Empire, the Oude Rijn river was very important. It was the northern border of the Roman Empire. Roman army groups were stationed here, starting around 41–54 AD. Because of this, several Roman forts were built along the Oude Rijn. One of these was Albanianae, right in the center of Alphen. The Romans even built the first bridge over the Oude Rijn. This made Alphen an important place for trade until about 240 AD.

After many problems with floods, especially in other cities, the Oude Rijn was blocked by a dam in 1122. This made the Lek River the main branch of the Rhine. Since then, the Oude Rijn has not flooded. In the Middle Ages, Alphen was known as a fiefdom, which was a type of land owned by a lord.

The vertical-lift bridge over the Gouwe River was built in the 1930s.

In the 1600s, Alphen became important again as a center for trade. Boats used the Oude Rijn river to move goods. You can still see parts of the old towpath along the river. This path was used by people or animals to pull boats.

The current municipality of Alphen aan den Rijn was created in 1918. It was formed by joining smaller municipalities like Alphen, Aarlanderveen, and Oudshoorn. Later, in 1964, the municipality of Zwammerdam was added. In 2014, Boskoop and Rijnwoude also joined. This made the municipality much larger and increased its population to over 100,000 people.

After the 1950s, the city grew very quickly. A large new neighborhood was built on the north side. Alphen became a city where many people lived and then traveled to other cities for work. However, new businesses also created jobs within Alphen. Since the 1990s, a similar new area was built on the city's south side.

Monumental clocktower in Alphen aan den Rijn

Theater Castellum

Railway and bicycle parking station

In recent years, a big part of the city center has been rebuilt. Many older buildings were taken down to make way for modern ones. This plan included a new public square by the river. A new performing arts theater and cinema were also built. Local shops were improved, and new pedestrian streets were created. By 2006, these projects on the left riverbank were finished. A similar plan for the right riverbank is now being carried out.

On August 3, 2015, a part of the Juliana Bridge collapsed during renovation. Two cranes were lifting a new section of the bridge. The pontoon they were on became unbalanced. The bridge section fell onto nearby buildings. Luckily, no one was hurt because people had already left the area. About 51 properties were damaged.

People Living in Alphen aan den Rijn

Alphen aan den Rijn is home to people from many different backgrounds.

Most people (about 78.8%) are native Dutch people.
About 9.5% are from other European countries or are their descendants.
Smaller groups include Turkish people (1.3%), Moroccan people (2.7%), and people from Suriname (1.8%).
About 0.9% are from the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba.
Another 5% are from other non-native backgrounds.

Fun Things to Do in Alphen aan den Rijn

Alphen aan den Rijn has some great places to visit:

Avifauna Bird Park – This was the world's first park just for birds! It opened in 1950.
Archeon – This is an archaeological park where you can learn about Dutch history. It has old ruins and people acting out scenes from the past. There are 43 replica buildings from prehistoric, Roman, and Medieval times. It opened in 1994.
Zegersloot Recreation Park – This park has an artificial lake. It's a popular spot for hiking, cycling, windsurfing, wakeboarding, and water skiing.

Exciting Events

Alphen aan den Rijn hosts several exciting events throughout the year:

20 van Alphen – This is an international 20-kilometer running race. It happens every year on the second Sunday of March. In 2006, a world record was set here by Haile Gebrselassie for a 25 km race!
Year market – A market held on the third Wednesday in September, featuring local products.
Lakeside Festival – A music festival held at the end of August near the Zegersloot lake.
Old timer day – On the second Saturday of September, you can see old cars, tractors, and steam engines.
LAURA – This is a four-day bicycle event held in the first week of July. Alphen aan den Rijn is both the start and finish point for this ride.
Tean International – A professional tennis tournament that takes place at the Alphense Tennis Club.
Midwinter Fair and Midzomer Fair – These are Fantasy festivals held at the Archeon park.
Vakantiespel – One of the biggest events in the Netherlands for children aged 6 to 12. It happens every year in August.

Getting Around: Public Transport

The town has its own train station, Alphen aan den Rijn railway station. It is just southeast of the town center. The bus station is also located close to the railway station.

Economy

The company Wolters Kluwer, which focuses on information and publishing, has its main office in Alphen aan den Rijn.

Famous People from Alphen aan den Rijn

Liesbeth Spies, 2012

Many notable people have connections to Alphen aan den Rijn:

Quirijn van Brekelenkam (1622/29–1669/79), a Dutch painter.
J.C. Bloem (1887–1966), a Dutch poet.
Liesbeth Spies (born 1966), a Dutch politician who has been the Mayor of Alphen aan den Rijn since 2014.
Arvin Slagter (born 1985), a Dutch basketball player who won an Olympic Gold medal in 3x3 basketball in 2024.
Salah Edin (born 1981), a Dutch Moroccan rapper and actor.