Voorhout facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Voorhout
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| Country |  Netherlands |
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| Province |  South Holland |
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| Water board | Hoogheemraadschap van Rijnland | |
| Municipality | Teylingen | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 12.62 km2 (4.87 sq mi) | |
| Population
(2017)
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15,620 | |
Voorhout is a village in the western Netherlands, located in the province of South Holland. It used to be its own municipality (a type of local government area), but on January 1, 2006, it joined with Sassenheim and Warmond to form the new Teylingen municipality.
Voorhout is found in a special area known as the "Dune and Bulb Region" (Duin- en Bollenstreek). This region is famous for its colorful flower fields, especially tulips, hyacinths, and daffodils. The former municipality of Voorhout covered about 12.59 square kilometers (4.86 square miles), with a small part of it being water. In 2004, about 14,792 people lived there.
Voorhout also includes smaller communities like Piet Gijzenbrug (partly) and Teijlingen, which is home to the historic Slot Teylingen castle.
Discovering Voorhout's Past
Voorhout celebrated its 1000th birthday in 1988! We know this because a letter from the year 988 mentions Voorhout. In this letter, Count Dirk II of Holland gave the church of "Foranholte" (Voorhout's old name) to Egmond Abbey.
The name "Foranholte" gives us a clue about the area. The second part, "holte" or "hout," means "wood" or "forest." This tells us that the dune area around Voorhout was likely covered in many trees back then. The name "Voorhout" means "in front of a forest," suggesting where the village grew. Another nearby place, Noordwijkerhout, also refers to this ancient forest. Even the name Holland might come from "Holtland," meaning "woodland."
Ancient Finds and Early Settlements
People lived in the Voorhout area long before 988. Roman coins have been found here, showing that Romans were present. In 1907, a farmer discovered 18 bronze axes and one chisel near Rijnsburgerweg. These tools are about 3,500 years old! Today, you can see them at the Rijksmuseum van Oudheden (National Museum of Antiquities) in Leiden.
The Influence of Teylingen Castle
Starting around 1150, the noble families of Teylingen became very important in the area. Dutch Counts often met at Slot Teylingen castle. One of the most famous people to live in the castle was Jacoba van Beieren, also known as Jacqueline of Bavaria. Despite this, Voorhout remained a small village for a long time. In 1514, there were only 40 houses recorded in the area.
Voorhout's Growth and Development
Voorhout began to grow more significantly after 1657, when the Leidsevaart canal was built. This canal connected Haarlem to Leiden, making transport easier. In 1842, a train line opened between Haarlem and Leiden, and Voorhout even got two train stops. By 1900, Voorhout had about 2,000 residents.
After 1944, new roads were built, and the train stops closed for passengers. In 1960, Voorhout's population reached about 5,000 people. By 1988, it had grown to 9,360, partly because of a new neighborhood called Oosthout. In 1997, Voorhout got a train station again, which helped the population continue to grow. On January 1, 2005, Voorhout had 14,919 inhabitants.
The Bulb Industry and Modern Voorhout
Until World War II, the main way people in Voorhout earned money was through the flower bulb industry. Farmers grew beautiful flowers like tulips and hyacinths for their bulbs. Today, only a small number of people still work in bulb farming. Most residents now work outside Voorhout.
As mentioned earlier, on January 1, 2006, Voorhout merged with Warmond and Sassenheim to form the new municipality of Teylingen. This change was not welcomed by all residents.
Famous People from Voorhout
Voorhout has been home to several notable individuals, including famous scientists and athletes.
Born in Voorhout
- Herman Boerhaave (1668–1738): A very famous botanist, humanist, and doctor known across Europe.
- Edwin van der Sar (born 1970): A well-known football (soccer) player, famous for being a goalkeeper for top teams.
- Rob van Dijk (born 1969): Another talented football player who played as a goalkeeper.
- Jens Salfeld (born 2004): A young football player, also a goalkeeper.
Lived in Voorhout
- Jacqueline of Bavaria (1401–1436): Countess of Holland, who lived for some years at Slot Teylingen.
- Marco van Basten (born 1964): A legendary former football player (striker) and later a coach.
- Frank van Borssele (1395–1470): A governor of Holland and Zeeland provinces, and the fourth husband of Jacoba van Beieren. He also lived at Slot Teylingen.
- Truus van Aalten (1910–1999): An actress who later ran a souvenir business in Voorhout.
- Carlo l'Ami: A former football player and later a goalkeeper's trainer for AFC Ajax.
- Joris Schouten (1926–2021): A politician.
- Chiara Tissen (born 1964): An actress and writer.
- E.M. Uhlenbeck (1913–2003): A linguist.
Places to See in Voorhout
Voorhout has many interesting sights, from historic castles to beautiful churches.
- Teylingen Castle (Slot Teylingen): A historic monument with a rich past.
- The Boerhaave House (het Boerhaavehuis): Another important monument. Learn more about it here.
- Small Church (Kleine Kerk): A monument with historical significance.
- Saint-Bartholomew Church (Sint-Bartholomeüskerk or Grote Kerk): A large and important church.
- Polder Mill Hope Brings Life (Poldermolen Hoop Doet Leven): A traditional Dutch windmill, which is a monument.
- The Hooghkamer Farm (De Hooghkamer): A historic farm that is a monument. See details here.
- Rijnoord Farm (Rijnoord Boerderij): Another monumental farm. Find more information.
- Klein Bouwlust Farm (Klein Bouwlust): A monumental farm. Check it out here.
- Noordhout Farm (Noordhout): A historic farm that is also a monument.
Sports and Music in Voorhout
Voorhout has many clubs and organizations where people can join in sports and music.
Sports Clubs
- VV Foreholte: A local football (soccer) club.
- h.v. Foreholte: A handball club.
- MHC Voorhout: A hockey club.
- SV Voorhout: A tennis club.
- TV Voorhout: Another tennis club.
- De Columbiaan: A swimming club.
- Forwodians: A basketball club.
- Bacluvo: A badminton club.
- Inspiration: A club for majorettes and twirl.
Music Organizations
- Sint Cecilia: A Roman Catholic music organization.
Images for kids
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A street view of Voorhout.
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The coat of arms for Voorhout.
See also
In Spanish: Voorhout para niños
