Voorschoten: Culture, Village History and Hotels

Voorschoten is a green village between The Hague, Leiden and Wassenaar. If you are planning a stay, you can explore the village through a range of interests: its history and architecture, cultural events or routes through the countryside. The landscape includes polders with pastures, dunes, woodland, landscape and urban parks, waterways and peat lakes. These areas can be reached on foot or by bicycle, making it easy to plan a trip that combines culture with outdoor activities.

Village History and Culture

Kasteel Duivenvoorde was built in the 13th century as a large, square residential tower. In the 17th and 18th centuries, it was converted into the country house with a landscaped park that stands today. Its architectural history thus brings together two distinct periods: the medieval residential tower and its later transformation. Museum Voorschoten offers another way to explore the village’s history. It preserves, collects and makes accessible material on both the village’s distant and more recent past. Its collection includes historical material on social history, church and religion, education and fine art. This range of subjects places aspects of social life alongside religious and artistic history.

As well as church services, the Dorpskerk also hosts cultural events, including concerts, theatre, cabaret and literary events. The Zilverfabriek Van Kempen en Begeer was built in 1858 in the eclectic-classical style. The Voorschotense paardenmarkt has its own historical significance. It originated as an annual fair, known as a free market, more than 800 years ago. Since 2017, the paardenmarkt has been part of the Voorschotense Paardendagen.

Walking and Cycling Routes

If you would like to get to know the old centre on a guided tour, you can book one through Museum Voorschoten. The tour follows Voorstraat and Treubstraat, as well as part of Schoolstraat and the first stretch of Molenlaan. Tour packages may change, so check the latest booking information before making plans.

The Bomen wandel-route centrum Voorschoten is 7.5 kilometres long and can be completed on foot or by bicycle. Along the route are 50 notable trees, visible from public roads. For a tour of the country estates, there is a 10-kilometre route that can start at either Voorschoten station or de Vink station. The Prins Frederik Parkenroute runs through the present-day municipalities of Wassenaar and Voorschoten. A longer option for cyclists is the approximately 25-kilometre Beleef Fietsroute; Van der Valk Voorschoten is one of two convenient starting points. The distances and starting points help you choose between different tours. Before setting out, check the current route and starting-point information, as these details may be updated.

Landscape, Market and Visitor Information

The landscape offers a range of different views: open polders with pastures, dunes and woodland sit alongside parks, waterways and peat lakes. As these areas can be reached on foot or by bicycle, they add time outdoors to the village’s historical and cultural attractions.

The market in Voorschoten regularly features stalls selling local products, though individual vendors may vary. These include the stall of Wijngaard Chateau deux filles, the only winery in Voorschoten. It has produced regional wines and liqueurs since 2000. The Friday market offers fresh vegetables, fruit, cheese, nuts, meat, fish, chicken, bread, fresh biscuits and Turkish specialities. If you are planning a visit to the market, check the latest date.

The VVV visitor information office in Voorschoten is located in the village’s historic heart, on Voorstraat, inside Museum Voorschoten. This visitor information point is therefore at the same address as the museum, whose collection explores the village’s history from several perspectives.

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