Voorschoten Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Voorschoten

Kloosterkapel in Voorschoten

Flag	Coat of arms

Location in South Holland

Government

• Body

Municipal council

Area

• Total

11.56 km² (4.46 sq mi)

• Land

11.16 km² (4.31 sq mi)

• Water

0.40 km² (0.15 sq mi)

Elevation

0 m (0 ft)

Population

(May 2014)

• Total

24,978

• Density

2,238/km² (5,800/sq mi)

Demonym(s)

Voorschotenaar

Time zone

UTC+1 (CET)

• Summer (DST)

UTC+2 (CEST)

Postcode

2250–2254

Area code

071

Map of the municipality of Voorschoten, June 2015

Voorschoten is a town and municipality located in the western part of the Netherlands. It is in the province of South Holland. Voorschoten is a smaller town within the Randstad, which is a large urban area. It is surrounded by the cities of Leiden, Wassenaar, and Leidschendam-Voorburg.

The town covers an area of about 11.59 square kilometers, with a small part of that being water. Even though it's in a busy area, Voorschoten feels like a friendly village. Many people who live here travel to nearby cities like The Hague or Leiden for work.

Voorschoten is home to some important historical buildings. These include the old Castle Duivenvoorde and the Vredenhof Manor. The Vredenhof was rebuilt by Dirck Jansz Graeff and was owned by the De Graeff family for a long time.

Because it's close to The Hague and has international schools like the British School in the Netherlands, many people from other countries live in Voorschoten. A lot of these residents are from Britain.

History of Voorschoten
Modern Voorschoten: Growth and Activities
Getting Around: Public Transport
Famous People from Voorschoten
Images for kids
See also

History of Voorschoten

Voorschoten received its market rights in 1282. This special permission was given by Floris V of Holland. Market rights allowed the town to hold markets, which helped it grow and become more important.

Modern Voorschoten: Growth and Activities

In recent years, Voorschoten has grown quite a bit. New housing areas like Starrenburg, Krimwijk II, and Voorsche Park have been built.

The town offers many great places for sports and fun. You can find clubs for hockey, football (soccer), and baseball. There's also a tennis club, a swimming pool, and a golf course.

Voorschoten has several churches. Two of the most notable are the main church in the historic center and the St. Laurentius Church in the northern part of town.

Getting Around: Public Transport

Voorschoten railway station is on the train line that connects Amsterdam and Rotterdam. Trains run regularly, making it easy to travel to The Hague and Amsterdam.

In April 2023, an event involving a train happened near the railway station.

Famous People from Voorschoten

Many interesting people have connections to Voorschoten. Here are a few:

Melchior Treub (1851–1910): A Dutch botanist who started the Bogor Agricultural Institute.
Lodewijk Thomson (1869–1914): A Dutch military leader and politician.
Max van der Stoel (1924–2011): A Dutch politician, diplomat, and legal expert.
Piet Bukman (1934–2022): A Dutch politician, diplomat, and economist.
Benk Korthals (born 1944): A retired Dutch politician and legal expert.
Helma Neppérus (born 1950): A Dutch politician, former tax inspector, and rower. She was also a local council member for Voorschoten.
Henk A. M. J. ten Have (born 1951): A professor who studies ethics in healthcare.
Han Schuil (born 1958): A Dutch artist who works with different types of media.
Hans Vijlbrief (born 1963): A Dutch civil servant, economist, and State Secretary for Finance.
Rolf Muntz (born 1969): A Dutch professional golfer.