Voorburg Historic Center
Herenstraat in Voorburg is an adorable pedestrian-only street with beautiful historic architecture and a little, leafy church yard (Oude Kerk). Voorburg is a town close to The Hague, and a good place to eat- you can catch a four-minute sprinter train from The Hague to come explore it. It is the oldest town in The Netherlands! Walk down Herenstraat and check out the cute boutiques, especially the little children's bookshop called In de Wolken.
For dining, try a delicious chicken roti dinner at Klein Suriname (lunch and dinner until 7pm, closed Sun and Mon) in the old town. I am still thinking about the yummy texture and flavors. You can sit outside on the yellow picnic table across the road, which belongs to the restaurant. Thailandia (dinner only, closed Mondays) is also a good restaurant, with delicious Thai food. Its outdoor seating catches the afternoon sun. Fratelli (Mon-Wed only dinner, the rest of the days lunch too) is an Italian restaurant with wonderful seating under leafy vines in front of the old church, Oude Kerk. Their lasagne is good, and mild tasting, which kids like. Sucre Sale (closed Mon-Wed) is a French bakery with good pastries. The Village Lounge, is at the far western end of Herenstraat, below the Voorburg railway station. Here you can sit in a spacious modern plaza in the sun. Inside, they have comfortable seating and pretty lighting, with windows looking out on the greenery. From there, you can pop into Tuincentrum Hofwijck, a garden nursery store, next door to Holiday Inn.
On hot days, residents walk the shady paths of Vruegd en Rust (Peace and Quiet) Park, along the canal and in the forest. People even swim in the dark brown waters of the canal. There are bikes, ebikes, and scooters going at top speed on what resembles forest paths where only people would normally be walking- I wanted to be able to let my mind wander but it wasn't really the peace and quiet I hoped for!
The tiny cobblestone streets of Voorburg are not large enough to contain the sheer quantity of people on bikes, who come at you from all angles. There is no dedicated walking path or sidewalk, literally nowhere safe to stand or walk, except huddled against the flower pots. People go by at serious speeds on bikes, literally inches from your hips. If you stepped an inch to the side as you walk along, that would be the end of your vacation. Tiny cars go at freeway speeds down lanes that look like pedestrian lanes, taking you by surprise.
Across the canal from the railway station is Hofwijck, the lovely, symmetrical house of Constantijn Huygens, a Dutch poet, lute player, and scientist, who also spoke many languages and composed music. His house was built in the 1600s by Huygens himself and Jacob van Campen, the same architect that designed gorgeous, symmetrical Maurithuis in The Hague. You can visit it Wed-Sun 12-5.
There is a nice playground in Voorburg with trees galore, Opa's Veldje (Grandpa's Park), which has a fun cable to zipline on, a large woven disc swing for two, a baby swing, regular swing, tiny spinner, seesaw, and a water activity area where you pump water into troughs. It also has a strange contraption that throws you up in the air if someone else jumps on it!
A basic outdoor mall, Julianabaan Shopping Center, with a nice bookstore called Bruna is a fifteen minute walk north from the main street.
A sixteen minute drive from Voorburg is Scheveningen Beach, Pier, and Boardwalk, a popular beach with large pier, wide boardwalk, aquarium, grand 1880s hotel, cafes, and summertime cafes that pop up right by the sand.
Historic building.
The old church. The sheep are no longer there.
Herenstraat at night.
Herenstraat, a historic pedestrian-only street in Voorburg.
The old town hall at sunset, built 1632.
Plant pot and lamppost on Herenstraat.
It's lovely to stroll along Herenstraat.
Cute gingerbread-style architecture on Herenstraat.
The old church.
Looking down a pedestrian-only side street.
Little girls sit in front of the old church.
Brasserie seating in front of the old church.
The church on Herenstraat. The brasserie no longer exists.
Sunny Saturday on Herenstraat.
Looking toward The Hague from the Voorburg railway station.
Sitting outside at The Village Lounge, near the railway station.
Sunny day at the cafe by the railway station.
Hofwijck, the home of Huygens, as seen from the square below the railway station.
Lovely buildings behind the old church.
Cute buildings on Herenstraat.
The old church and rows of trees.
Sunny afternoon.
Truly adorable side street!
White houses on Kerkstraat, with pretty gardens.
The River, a restaurant on the canal.
Seating by the old church and Coffee Works.
Cobblestone path by the canal, willow tree, and boat.
Orange flags decorate a street showing Dutch spirit during a soccer game.
Pedestrian bridge to Park Vreugd en Rust, a large park on the canal.
Flowers pots at Julianabaan Shopping Center.
Shady lawn at Park Vreugd en Rust, along the canal.
Walkways in Park Vreugd en Rust.
Cute trees near Julianabaan Shopping Center.
Peaceful scene at Park Vreugd en Rust.
Bruna Bookstore at Julianabaan Shopping Center.
Walkway along the canal at Park Vreugd en Rust. It looks peaceful but bikes and ebikes nearly hit you as you walk along.
Julianabaan Shopping Center allows the sun through but gives you shelter from rain.
Shady path along the canal at Park Vreugd en Rust.
Skylight at Julianabaan Shopping Center.
Bridge in the forest at Park Vreugd en Rust.
Open space with cafe at Julianabaan Shopping Center.
Bird house at Park Vreugd en Rust.
Old Church in the distance, in Voorburg.
Beautiful greenery at Park Vreugd en Rust, a park at the end of the main strip in Voorburg.
There is a beautiful organ in Oude Kerk, the old church, on Herenstraat.
Stained glass arched window in Oude Kerk, the old church, on Herenstraat.
Grand tree in Park Vreugd en Rust, a park near the town center in Voorburg.
I like the blue ceiling in Oude Kerk.
Gazebo and bright green grass at Park Vreugd en Rust, a large park on the canal.
Stained glass in Oude Kerk.
Brasserie De Koepel in Park Vreugd en Rust.
Angel sculpture in Oude Kerk.
Mansion on Herenstraat, at the far end of the main strip of Voorburg.
Sitting at a leafy cafe outside the old church.
Rowhouse on Herenstraat built in 1893.
Ornate windows.
Amazing flower basket on Kerkstraat.
Sucre Sale is a French patisserie on the main street.
Klein Suriname Cafe on the main street, Herenstraat.
It's lovely to eat outside in front of the old church at Fratelli Voorburg.
Town hall.
Red window shutters.
Dutch architecture on Herenstraat.
Herenstraat has many cafes.
Thai restaurant on Herenstraat, a popular spot in the early evening.
Attractive storefronts on Herenstraat.
Town hall and a lamppost with flowers.
The Oude Kerk, or old church. It has a nice organ inside.
Vossenburch, or Fox Burrow, a building with stepped gable, first mentioned in 1522. Face sculpted above the window.
Cards at Tuincentrum Hofwijck, a garden nursery store.
Flowers at Tuincentrum Hofwijck, a garden nursery store.
Inside Tuincentrum Hofwijck, a nursery near Holiday Inn.
Leafy arches, at Tuincentrum Hofwijck.
Bakery sign in gold.
Kerkstraat is a pretty street.
Cobblestone walkway and boat docks along the river.
Four trees in a square, on Sionsstraat, which runs along the river.
Knobby trees on Sionsstraat, along the river.
The River cafe.
To find this area, use this address in your GPS: Herenstraat 68, 2271 CJ Voorburg, Netherlands.
Last Updated: Wed, 24 Jul 2024 19:34:33 GMT
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