Oegstgeest: Country Estates, Churches and Walking Trails

An old coastal dune ridge runs from south to north through Oegstgeest. The grounds of Oud-Poelgeest are situated on it. The estate is freely accessible to walkers; before visiting, it is worth checking the latest access arrangements. The walking route “Landgoedwandelen: Oegstgeest” partly follows the dune ridge and passes Oud-Poelgeest, Kasteel Endegeest, the grounds of Rijngeest and Bos van Wijckerslooth. The route also runs through Leidse Hout city park.

Country Estates and History

The history of the local buildings dates back to the Middle Ages. At that time, a Thuijs te Poelgheest stood along the waterway Mare, now called Haarlemmertrekvaart. Kasteel Endegeest was first mentioned in 1305. A new building replaced the castle in 1647; after later renovations, it still stands today. The municipality of Oegstgeest purchased Bos van Wijckerslooth in 1949 and opened it to the public as a walking park.

The Willibrorduskerk also has a story of its own: ivy was planted against its church walls towards the end of the 19th century. This is where its popular name, “Groene Kerkje” (Little Green Church), comes from. The present building and its church tower date from 1662 and 1663. A hotel-restaurant is located in the coach house at Oud-Poelgeest.

Woodland Park and Trails

Rhijngeest is an 8-hectare woodland park near Oegstgeest town hall. The variety of plants, trees and birds is attributed to the different sandy, clay and peat soils. In autumn, more than a hundred species of mushrooms can be found there. A free, downloadable 2 km walk through the grounds of Endegeest and Rhijngeest is available.

The walks and hikes vary not only in length but also in the places they take in. A 2.8 km walk circles Klinkenbergerplas; you can start at hiking junction 05 or 07. A 6 km hike passes places where Jan Wolkers lived, played, went to school or worked. In addition to paths and avenues, much of it runs through green spaces. The 8 km “Landgoedwandelen: Oegstgeest” route partly follows the dune ridge and passes country estates and parks. Before setting out, check the route details, trail markings and access arrangements.

Water and Nature Areas

Klinkenbergerplas was created by sand extraction. The deep lake to the south is suitable for swimming, fishing and diving; before swimming or diving, check the local safety conditions. This lets you combine a walk by the water with a look at how the lake was formed, while activities in the southern lake are subject to their own conditions.

The 20-hectare Polders Poelgeest lie next to the new residential areas of Leiden and Oegstgeest. Created as a wetland and reed-bed area, they are now an important bird habitat. Walking paths and bridges lead through the area; routes may change during maintenance work. There is also a mooring for canoes and sloops, and access may change. Check the current routes and access arrangements before visiting.

Cycling

Oegstgeest has a network of routes with junctions for recreational cycling. The Romeinse Limespad, part of the nationwide walking trail network, also runs through the town. The two options serve different purposes: one is a recreational cycling network, while the other is a walking trail. Route information may change, so check it before setting out.

Discover more destinations: Oegstgeest, Zuidplas, Hillegom, Bergambacht, Noordwijk, Reeuwijk, Leiderdorp, Bodegraven

Return to the main travel overview: South Holland.