Rijswijk Explained

Rijswijk
Other Name:Ryswick
Settlement Type:Town and municipality
Image Alt:Towpath (Jaagpad)
Flag Size:100x67px
Map Alt:Highlighted position of Rijswijk in a municipal map of South Holland
Coordinates:52.0333°N 23°W
Subdivision Type:Country
Subdivision Name:Netherlands
Subdivision Type1:Province
Subdivision Name1:South Holland
Government Footnotes:[1]
Governing Body:Municipal council
Leader Title:Mayor
Leader Name:Huri Sahin
Unit Pref:Metric
Elevation Footnotes:[2]
Elevation M:0
Population Demonym:Rijswijker
Timezone1:CET
Utc Offset1:+1
Timezone1 Dst:CEST
Utc Offset1 Dst:+2
Postal Code Type:Postcode
Postal Code:2280–2289
Area Code Type:Area code
Area Code:070

Rijswijk (in Dutch; Flemish ˈrɛisʋɛik/), formerly known as Ryswick in English, is a town and municipality in the western Netherlands, in the province of South Holland. Its population was 59.642 in 2024, and it has an area of NaNRijswijk}}, NaNRijswijk}} of which is water.

The municipality also includes the former hamlets of 't Haantje and Sion, currently also known as Rijswijk-Buiten.

Demographics

62% Dutch background, 38% No Dutch background

History

Archeological excavations indicate that this area of the coastal dunes was already inhabited some 5500 years ago. The village of Rijswijk formed in the 13th century, and its history was dominated by the presence of mansions and estates of the nobility and affluent.

The Treaty of Ryswick was signed at the Huis ter Nieuwburg in 1697, ending the Nine Years' War. A monument, the Needle of Rijswijk (1792), was erected to commemorate the treaty in the Rijswijk Forest.

Until 1900 Rijswijk remained a relative small community but it became urbanized during the 20th century when it expanded rapidly. Today, Rijswijk's area has almost been completely built-up. The last major development is the new Ypenburg neighbourhood, built on the lands of the former Ypenburg Airfield but this part of Rijswijk was annexed by The Hague in 2002. Rijswijk is part of the Haaglanden conurbation. During the years its built-up area has grown to the point where it has effectively merged with The Hague, even though it is still a separate municipality.

Up until 2009 Rijswijk had a polytechnic college for applied sciences; TH Rijswijk (Technische Hogeschool Rijswijk). After a merger with the Haagse Hogeschool, this was moved to the campus of the TUDelft in Delft. The building still remains.

Istana Negara, one of the six presidential palaces of Indonesia, in the Jakarta neighbourhood of Harmoni (formerly Rijswijk-Molenvliet), was called Paleis te Rijswijk during Dutch colonial times.

Public transport

Economy

Rijswijk is home to:

Recreation

The largest shopping center is called 'In de Bogaard' and smaller shops are located in the old town center (Herenstraat). There is the old Schaapweimolen (windmill). De Broodfabriek holds many fairs and events.

Notable people

Public service

Arts and learning

Sport

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Burgemeester Huri Sahin . nl . Gemeente Rijswijk . 15 May 2024.
  2. Web site: Postcodetool for 2284DP . nl . . Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland . Het Waterschapshuis . 20 August 2013.