Zoetermeer

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 an 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.

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

• The old church, Dorpsstraat 59 (at the crossing of the Dorpsstraat/Delftsewallen/Leidsewallen. 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, made in 1664 by Harmannus Brouckman from nearby Leiden.
• Windmill "de Hoop" (hope), Stationstraat 37a. 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.
• Stadsmuseum Zoetermeer. A small museum about the history of the city with temporary exhibits.
• Watertower "De Tien Gemeenten". A 45 m watertower built in 1928. Not really interesting to see unless you have some special affection for them.

The old church, Dorpsstraat 59 (at the crossing of the Dorpsstraat/Delftsewallen/Leidsewallen. 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, made in 1664 by Harmannus Brouckman from nearby [[Leiden]].

Windmill "de Hoop" (hope), Stationstraat 37a. 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.

Stadsmuseum Zoetermeer. A small museum about the history of the city with temporary exhibits.

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

Zoetermeer likes to see itself as a fun city. It's possible to do some snowboarding or skiing, ice-skating, see movies, rock climbing, do some rafting, or some white water canoeing.

• Snowworld, Buytenparklaan 30 2717 AX, +31 900 766996753. Around €25 an hour.
• Kinepolis Cinema, Oostwaarts 70 2711 BB, +31 79 33 00 366. 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..
• Nationaal Videogame Museum, Theaterplein 11, 2711 EK (get off at Randstadrail stop 'Stadhuis' and enter the shopping arcade. You'll find it inside., +31793602718. The museum has a selection of arcade machines and gaming consoles on display that can be played with tokens (available at the register).

Snowworld, Buytenparklaan 30 2717 AX, +31 900 766996753. Around €25 an hour.

Kinepolis Cinema, Oostwaarts 70 2711 BB, +31 79 33 00 366. 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..

Nationaal Videogame Museum, Theaterplein 11, 2711 EK (get off at Randstadrail stop 'Stadhuis' and enter the shopping arcade. You'll find it inside., +31793602718. The museum has a selection of arcade machines and gaming consoles on display that can be played with tokens (available at the register).

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, 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 (most are closed on Sundays and Mondays.)

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.

• 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., +31 79-3217498. +/- 28,- Euro for a 3-course meal.

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., +31 79-3217498. +/- 28,- Euro for a 3-course meal.

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, Vrienden).

These are opened until 2AM in weekends, until midnight at weekdays (Sunday-Thursday)

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.