From Wikitravel

Zoetermeer is a city located in the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. The first record of the city's existence dates back to the 11th century, when veen, a fuel for stoves, was harvested from the land.

In 1966, Zoetermeer was pointed out as a expansion area for the nearby The Hague. In 1962 the village had around 10 000 habitants. March 2008 brought the 120 000th habitant. Nowadays, the city is no longer a so-called satellite city of The Hague but a city of its own.

[edit] Get in

Being set up as a commuter city, Zoetermeer has a good infrastructure.

[edit] By car

From the A12 highway, take the "Zoetermeer-Oost" or "Zoetermeer-Centrum" exit.

[edit] By train

From The Hague you can take the sprinter train to Gouda or Utrecht. Jump out at "Zoetermeer" or "Zoetermeer-oost". Please note: the Intercity Services do NOT call at Zoetermeer Stations.

You can also take the "randstadrail", this light rail transport system runs throughout the city. It connects Zoetermeer with the Hague, Rotterdam and Leidschendam.

[edit] Get around

Zoetermeer has a excellent transportation system. The "randstadrail" runs throughout the whole city. Parts that are not covered by it are easily reachable by bus.

When coming from The Hague or Utrecht you probably end up at Zoetermeer-West train station. Walk across the highway to the other train station. There, you will find the Randstadrail, which brings you to "Zoetermeer Centrum West". All buses depart here. You can also find here the police station, shops and town hall.

You can buy a ticket on the bus by the driver: outside the rush hour and on weekends there is a cheap one-way/use ticket. You may also use a strippenkaart which you can find at kiosks, supermarkets or tobacco shops, or the strippenkaarts successor, the OV chipcard.

The "randstadrail" uses the same strippenkaart, but you can also buy tickets on board at a machine so make sure you carry enough coins!

[edit][add listing] See

Being such a young city there is not a lot of old stuff to see:

The old church At the crossing of the Dorpsstraat/Vlamingstraat you can find the oldest church. With first constructions dating back to the 16th century, it's one of the oldest buildings around. The Italian architect Guidici made the design in Classicist style. The church houses some nice antiquities, for example a Lodewijk XVI style pulpit. A houwork made in 1664 by Harmannus Brouckman from nearby Leiden. address: Dorpsstraat 59 2712 AD Zoetermeer

Windmill "de Hoop" (hope) In its present shape, it's been around since 1896. You can visit the windmill when the blue wimple (flag) is up or when it works. address: Stationstraat 37a 2712 HB Zoetermeer

Stadsmuseum Zoetermeer (Zoetermeer City Museum) A small museum about the history of the city with temporary exhibits. [1]

Watertower "De Tien Gemeenten" A 45 m watertower built in 1928. Not really interesting to see unless you have some special affection for them.

[edit][add listing] Do

Zoetermeer likes to see itself as a fun city. Its possible to do some snowboarding or skiing, ice-skating, see movies, rockclimbing, do some rafting or white water canoeing.

• Snowworld, Buytenparklaan 30 2717 AX Zoetermeer (directions), ☎ 0900-766996753 (zoetermeer@snowworld.com), [2]. The biggest indoor ski facility of Europe, here you can do some skiing and snowboarding. There is also a restaurant with a nice view on the piste. around €25,- an hour.  edit

• Utopolis Cinema, Oostwaarts 70 2711 BB Zoetermeer, ☎ (+31) (0)79 33 00 366 (zoetermeer@utopolis.com), [3]. Monday to Thursday: 12:00 to 22:00 Friday and Saturday: 12:00 to 22:15 Sunday: 10:00 to 22:00. Normal rate: € 8,00 Reduction: € 6,50 (65+, students) Children under 12: € 6,00 (except when the movie is rated 12+) Sunday morning: € 5,50 Movies more than 140 min have a € 1,50 surcharge..  edit

[edit][add listing] Buy

Zoetermeer has an excellent shopping area called 'het Stadshart' (meaning city heart). It's easily reachable by public transport, get off at 'Centrum West'.

You'll find a lot of franchise stores and chains: H&M, WE, C&A, Hema, Free Record Shop, Media Markt, etc.

Just a short walk from the Stadshart, you will find the Dorpsstraat. This is the oldest part of the city and offers a wide variety of specialty shops and boutiques.

[edit][add listing] Eat

There aren't a lot of restaurants around in Zoetermeer. Most of them serve Chinese and Indonesian food, just like the other cities in the Netherlands. Here are some decent restaurants :

• Julius, Eerste Stationsstraat 39 2712 HB Zoetermeer (In the center of the Dorpsstraat take a right near ':Pilatusdam, 3 minute walk from there), ☎ 079 - 316 61 62 (info@julius-restaurant.nl, fax: 079 - 316 63 78), [4]. 12:00-22:30. about 25 euro for a three-course meal.  edit

• Hoeve Kromwijk, Voorweg 133 2716 NH Zoetermeer (Driving over the 'Voorweg' in the direction of the Westerpark you will see it at your rightside when you go out of the Urban area.), ☎ 079-3217498 (info@hoevekromwijk.nl, fax: 079-3217497), [5]. +/- 28,- Euro for a 3-course meal.  edit

[edit][add listing] Drink

Like restaurants, there are few pubs in Zoetermeer.

You will find some in the old centre (Dorpsstraat), mostly open at daytime. Around the 'Stadhuisplein', there are some pubs (The Old Pal, Queen of Hearts, Hipp).

These are opened untill 2:00 a.m. hours except for Hipp. wich turns into a nighclub and closes the terrace.

It is strictly forbidden in the centre of Zoetermeer to have any opened cans, bottles, etc. containing alcoholic beverages. There is strict police enforcement and a fine will cost you around €60.

There are some clubs in Zoetermeer; some nice ones are listed below:

• Locomotion, Amerikaweg 1 (Get off at Randstadrail station Voorweg Hoog or Voorweg Laag. 5 minute walk in the direction of the Westerpark.), ☎ 079 - 32 00 528 (fax: 079 - 32 00 529), [6]. 22.00-05.00. The largest discotheque in town, with a capacity of 1,500 people. Mainly young crowd. € 7.50 entrance, drinks around € 1.90.  edit

[edit][add listing] Sleep

[edit] Contact

[edit] Get out

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