'''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 11th century when veen, a fuel for stoves etc, 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 it became a city of its own.

Get in

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

By car

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

By train

From The Hague you can take the intercity or stoptrain. Jump out at "Zoetermeer" or "Zoetermeer -oost" You can also take the "randstadrail", this light rail transport system runs throughout the city. It connects Zoetermeer with the Hague, Rotterdam and Leidschendam.

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 train station Zoetermeer -west. walk across the highway to the other train station. There you find the randstadrail which brings you to "Zoetermeer centrum west". From this place all buses depart. 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 in the weekends there is a cheap one-way/use ticket. Or use a strippenkaart which you can find at kiosks, supermarkets or tobacco shops. The "randstadrail" uses the same strippenkaart, but you can also buy tickets on board at a machine, make sure you carry enough coins!

See

Being such a young city there is not a lot of old stuff to see. Some you should see:

'''The old Church''' At the crossing of the Dorpsstraat/Vlamingstraat you can find our oldest church. With first constructions date 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 is up, or when its working. address: Stationstraat 37a 2712 HB Zoetermeer

Stadsmuseum Zoetermeer (citymuseum Zoetermeer) A small museum about the history of the city and temporary exhibits. [http://www.stadsmuseumzoetermeer.nl/ 1]

Watertower "De Tien Gemeenten" A 45 meter high watertower build in 1928. Not really interesting to see unless you got some special feeling for them.

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" alt="" address="Buytenparklaan 30 2717 AX Zoetermeer" directions="car: Follow directions, hanging around the whole city. Bus: from centrum west take line 77, ask driver to warn you when to get out. Randstadrail: from centrum west take line 4 to The Hague. Get out at "Voorweg" and follow directions " phone="0900-766996753" email="zoetermeer@snowworld.com" fax="" url="http://zoetermeer.snowworld.com/" hours="1 October 2007 to 25 April 2008 Monday to Friday 09.00 - 24.00 uur Saturday and Sunday 08.00 - 24.00 uur

    26 April to 30 September 2008 Monday to Sunday 09.00 - 23.00 uur" price="around ?25,- a hour"> 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. </see>

  • Utopolis Cinema. ostwaarts 70 2711 BB Zoetermeer. ar: park your car in the "Duitslandlaan" parking garage (free of charge first three hours), the cinema is on the other side. randstadrail: Take line 3 or 4 to station "Stadhuis", from there walk north-east and you cant miss it. . +31) (0)79 33 00 366. oetermeer@utopolis.com. ttp://www.utopolis.nl/index.php?page=186. films start from.. to.. Monday to Thursday: 12:00 to 22:00 Friday and Saturday: 12:00 to 22:15 Sunday: 10:00 to 22:00 uur " price=" Normal rate: ? 8,00 Reduction: ? 6,50 (65+, students) Kinderen under 12 jaar: ? 6,00 (not when movie is rated 12+) Sundaymorning: ? 5,50 Additional fee for long movies:(> 140 min.) ? 1,50"> </see>

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