Welkom bij Wassenaar! Welcome to Wassenaar! Wassenaar is a quaint Dutch town which lies between The Hague and Leiden, two major cities along the Netherlands North Sea Coast. Wassenaar is more homey and calm than these metropolitan cities. While you can have the familiarity of home, you can also experience the Dutch culture and lifestyle.
When you first arrive in Wassenaar, make your way (by bicycle, as is the standard in the Netherlands) to the Langstraat. This “long street” is the main shopping and hang-out area for locals. Grab a delicious bagel sandwich at Bagel Alley and top if off with an award-winning Italian gelato from Luciano’s. At one end of the street, you will find a picturesque Dutch windmill that was built in 1667. Make sure to stop in at this still-functioning attraction and buy some freshly ground wheat or corn flour. Continue your exploration down the street, soaking in the beauty of the traditional Dutch architecture. As you walk, you will pass by the old Gemeente, or town hall, of Wassenaar, which is now a ceramics shop. You will notice it by the carillon of bells sounding at every quarter of the hour. Stroll down between the old and new buildings making your way towards the beautiful square overlooking the old church, the Dorpskerk, or Village Church.
If you find yourself in Wassenaar on a warm day, grab your bike and cycle the bike path through the dunes to the , which is wide and sandy. Since the sun is a rarity, do not expect to get a suntan. There are handful of restaurants located on the beach from early spring to late fall. While approaching the beach, you will see a statue in memory of soldiers who died in World War II. This memorial recalls the tunnels and bunkers hidden below the surface of the dunes. Not only does Wassenaar have beautiful scenery, it has history sprinkled throughout.
Perhaps you still want to cool off while having fun but do not enjoy the beach. There is a solution for you located in the heart of Wassenaar called Duinrell. This entertaining amusement park includes tree-lined paths, water rides and rollercoasters. If you find yourself in Wassenaar during the winter and want to take a dip, there is an indoor water park called Tikibad with heated pools.
After a fun-filled day exploring Wassenaar, you will need to satisfy your appetite. Thankfully, Wassenaar is home to a number of local and worldly cuisines including Italian, Indonesian, Argentinian, and Dutch. While in Wassenaar, make sure you try the national delicacy, pannenkoeken (a Dutch pancake) at a PannenkokenHuis.
If you are looking for a place to stay, the hotels de Kieviet and Hotel Wassenaar are easily accessible via bus, an easy, safe and affordable way to get around Wassenaar. Biking is the preferred method of transportation in Netherlands with dedicated bicycle paths virtually everywhere you go.
Nature in Wassenaar is captivating with rows of slanted trees, green parks and fields of animals throughout the town. You can experience the spring with fields of tulips, daffodils and other flowers. If you are lucky, the canals might freeze over during winter so you can go ice skating.
Wassenaar is a modern, but traditional Dutch village to visit while in the Netherlands because it offers wonderful attractions, friendly, English-speaking residents (due to a large international community harbored within) and picturesque scenes of nature. Rent a bike and enjoy this gem near the freeway, far better than a regular small town!
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