Rijswijk (Dutch: [ˈrɛisʋɛik] ), formerly known as Ryswick (/ˈrɪzwɪk/ RIZ-wik) 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 14.49 km2 (5.59 sq mi), 0.53 km2 (0.20 sq mi) of which is water.

Rijswijk
Ryswick
Gemeente Rijswijk
Towpath (Jaagpad)
Jaagpad street in Rijswijk
Flag of Ryswick
Coat of arms of Rijswijk
Highlighted position of Rijswijk in a municipal map of South Holland
Location in South Holland
Coordinates: 52°2′N 4°19′E / 52.033°N 4.317°E / 52.033; 4.317
CountryNetherlands
ProvinceSouth Holland
Government
 • BodyMunicipal council
 • MayorHuri Sahin
Area
 • Total
14.49 km2 (5.59 sq mi)
 • Land13.96 km2 (5.39 sq mi)
 • Water0.53 km2 (0.20 sq mi)
Elevation0 m (0 ft)
Population
 (January 2021)[4]
 • Total
59.642
 • Density3,956/km2 (10,250/sq mi)
DemonymRijswijker
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postcode
2280–2289
Area code070
Websitewww.rijswijk.nl

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

Demographics

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62% Dutch background, 38% No Dutch background.

History

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Rijswijk in 1867.
 
Dutch Topographic map of Rijswijk, June 2015

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.

 
Rijswijk, church (de Oude Kerk) in the street

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

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  • Rijswijk station
  • Stopplaats Rijswijk-Wateringen

Economy

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Rijswijk is home to:

Recreation

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  • Parks: Hoekpolder, Plaspoelpolder, Schaapweipolder, Hoge Broekpolder, Noordpolder, Park Overvoorde, Wilhelminapark, Elsenburgerbos, Park Steenvoorde.
  • Natural swimming location De Put
  • Rijswijkse Schouwburg, which hosts many national theatre shows.
  • The Von Fisenne Park has a petting zoo.
  • Sports park 'De Schilp' has an indoor swimming pool.
  • Museum Rijswijk located at Herenstraat 67, 2282 BR Rijswijk, which has many works of art

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

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Dionysius Koolen, 1925
 
Sigrid Kaag, 2018

Public service

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Arts and learning

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Piet van der Touw, 1963

Sport

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References

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  1. ^ "Burgemeester Huri Sahin" (in Dutch). Gemeente Rijswijk. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
  2. ^ "Kerncijfers wijken en buurten 2020" [Key figures for neighbourhoods 2020]. StatLine (in Dutch). CBS. 24 July 2020. Retrieved 19 September 2020.
  3. ^ "Postcodetool for 2284DP". Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland (in Dutch). Het Waterschapshuis. Retrieved 20 August 2013.
  4. ^ "Bevolkingsontwikkeling; regio per maand" [Population growth; regions per month]. CBS Statline (in Dutch). CBS. 1 January 2021. Retrieved 2 January 2022.
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