Wassenaar
Encyclopedia
Wassenaar is a town in the western Netherlands
, in the province of South Holland
. A fairly affluent suburb of The Hague
, Wassenaar lies 10 km (6 mi) north of that city on the N44 highway near the North Sea
coast. It is part of the Haaglanden
region. The municipality covers an area of 62.50 km², of which 11.65 km² is covered by water. Inhabitants of Wassenaar are called Wassenaarders.
church in Wassenaar lies on the spot where the Northumbria
n missionary Willibrord
once landed in the Netherlands; the high dunes to the west were not formed until later.
Wassenaar long remained an unremarkable little town, known only as the home of the House of Wassenaer
. It only began to gain notoriety in the 19th century when Louis Bonaparte
ordered the construction of the Heerweg ("Lord Road") between The Hague and Leiden, which forms the current Rijksstraatweg. In approximately 1840, Prince Frederik had the De Paauw palace built, where he lived for many years; it now serves as the city hall
of Wassenaar.
With the laying in 1907 of the railway between The Hague and Scheveningen, the course of which now forms the Landscheidingsweg, Wassenaar began to become a popular place for wealthier residents of The Hague to live.
From September 1944 to March 1945 Wassenaar was one of launching sites used by the German Luftwaffe, commanded by SS General Hans Kammler
for the V-2
ballistic missiles directed mainly towards London.
On one of the main routed to the Wassenaarseslag, the main beach for Wassenaarders, many are able to spot a World War II bunker. For safety reasons and the instability of the stucture, it was sealed off to prevent anybody from being caught under or in it if it collapsed.
The American World War II
and Korean War
general Haywood Hansell, who helped plan the Allied bombing offensive against both Germany and Japan
, lived in Wassenaar in retirement from 1957 to 1966.
The Wassenaar Arrangement
, a Post cold war era
arms control
convention, was signed here by forty member nations in May 1999
: Willem-Alexander, Prince of Orange
, his wife Princess Máxima of the Netherlands
and their daughters Princess Amalia
, Princess Alexia
and Princess Ariane
, live in the villa Eikenhorst at the estate De Horsten in Wassenaar; Princess Alexia was baptized at the Romanesque church in Wassenaar.
In addition, several ambassadorial residence
s are located here, including those of Canada
and South Korea
. In general, there is a large expatriate
community of diplomat
s and business people in Wassenaar, largely due to its proximity to both the international organisations and embassies in The Hague and to several international schools, including the American School of the Hague
and the British School in the Netherlands. The Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study
(NIAS) is also based in Wassenaar; each year, it provides research time, space and support for foreign and Dutch scholars.
As a community, Wassenaar benefits from several parks and a network of bicycle paths. Trees, mainly beech
, oak
and horse chestnut, are widespread, giving the town a provincial characteristic. The town centre supports a number of high end shops, delicatessens and bakeries as well as a cafe, bar and restaurant.
Some remnants of the Atlantic wall
are located on Wassenaar's beach, the Wassenaarseslag; nearly a thousand meters of underground walled tunnels are present, connecting five bunkers. The network now serves as a bat
sanctuary and is open to visits in the summer. The theme park Duinrell
and the race track
Duindigt, the only remaining grass race track in the Netherlands, are here as well.
Wassenaar has always enjoyed good relations with the neighboring town of Voorschoten
, with which it has shared a history from time immemorial. The House of Wassenaer
, for example, historically resided in the Kasteel Duivenvoorde
in Voorschoten.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
, in the province of South Holland
South Holland
South Holland is a province situated on the North Sea in the western part of the Netherlands. The provincial capital is The Hague and its largest city is Rotterdam.South Holland is one of the most densely populated and industrialised areas in the world...
. A fairly affluent suburb of The Hague
The Hague
The Hague is the capital city of the province of South Holland in the Netherlands. With a population of 500,000 inhabitants , it is the third largest city of the Netherlands, after Amsterdam and Rotterdam...
, Wassenaar lies 10 km (6 mi) north of that city on the N44 highway near the North Sea
North Sea
In the southwest, beyond the Straits of Dover, the North Sea becomes the English Channel connecting to the Atlantic Ocean. In the east, it connects to the Baltic Sea via the Skagerrak and Kattegat, narrow straits that separate Denmark from Norway and Sweden respectively...
coast. It is part of the Haaglanden
Haaglanden
Haaglanden refers to the conurbation around The Hague in the Province of South Holland in the Netherlands. This area is prominent in the Netherlands because The Hague is the third largest city in the Netherlands and the country's seat of government.-Usage:"Haaglanden" is sometimes used to refer to...
region. The municipality covers an area of 62.50 km², of which 11.65 km² is covered by water. Inhabitants of Wassenaar are called Wassenaarders.
History
It is known that a 12th century RomanesqueRomanesque architecture
Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of Medieval Europe characterised by semi-circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque architecture, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 10th century. It developed in the 12th century into the Gothic style,...
church in Wassenaar lies on the spot where the Northumbria
Northumbria
Northumbria was a medieval kingdom of the Angles, in what is now Northern England and South-East Scotland, becoming subsequently an earldom in a united Anglo-Saxon kingdom of England. The name reflects the approximate southern limit to the kingdom's territory, the Humber Estuary.Northumbria was...
n missionary Willibrord
Willibrord
__notoc__Willibrord was a Northumbrian missionary saint, known as the "Apostle to the Frisians" in the modern Netherlands...
once landed in the Netherlands; the high dunes to the west were not formed until later.
Wassenaar long remained an unremarkable little town, known only as the home of the House of Wassenaer
House of Wassenaer
Van Wassenaer is the name of an old Dutch noble family. It was first mentioned in the county of Holland on November 3, 1200. They are one of the few original noble families from Holland that has not died out.-Origin of the name:...
. It only began to gain notoriety in the 19th century when Louis Bonaparte
Louis Bonaparte
Louis Napoléon Bonaparte, Prince Français, Comte de Saint-Leu , King of Holland , was the fifth surviving child and the fourth surviving son of Carlo Buonaparte and Letizia Ramolino...
ordered the construction of the Heerweg ("Lord Road") between The Hague and Leiden, which forms the current Rijksstraatweg. In approximately 1840, Prince Frederik had the De Paauw palace built, where he lived for many years; it now serves as the city hall
City hall
In local government, a city hall, town hall or a municipal building or civic centre, is the chief administrative building of a city...
of Wassenaar.
With the laying in 1907 of the railway between The Hague and Scheveningen, the course of which now forms the Landscheidingsweg, Wassenaar began to become a popular place for wealthier residents of The Hague to live.
From September 1944 to March 1945 Wassenaar was one of launching sites used by the German Luftwaffe, commanded by SS General Hans Kammler
Hans Kammler
General Dr Ing. Hans Friedrich Karl Franz Kammler was a civil engineer and high-ranking officer of the SS. He oversaw SS construction projects, and towards the end of World War II was put in charge of the V-2 missile programme.He is most commonly referred to as Heinz Kammler or Hans...
for the V-2
V-2 rocket
The V-2 rocket , technical name Aggregat-4 , was a ballistic missile that was developed at the beginning of the Second World War in Germany, specifically targeted at London and later Antwerp. The liquid-propellant rocket was the world's first long-range combat-ballistic missile and first known...
ballistic missiles directed mainly towards London.
On one of the main routed to the Wassenaarseslag, the main beach for Wassenaarders, many are able to spot a World War II bunker. For safety reasons and the instability of the stucture, it was sealed off to prevent anybody from being caught under or in it if it collapsed.
The American World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...
general Haywood Hansell, who helped plan the Allied bombing offensive against both Germany and Japan
Axis Powers
The Axis powers , also known as the Axis alliance, Axis nations, Axis countries, or just the Axis, was an alignment of great powers during the mid-20th century that fought World War II against the Allies. It began in 1936 with treaties of friendship between Germany and Italy and between Germany and...
, lived in Wassenaar in retirement from 1957 to 1966.
The Wassenaar Arrangement
Wassenaar Arrangement
The Wassenaar Arrangement is a multilateral export control regime with 40 participating states including many former COMECON countries.It is the successor to the Cold war-era Coordinating Committee for Multilateral Export Controls , and was...
, a Post cold war era
Timeline of events in the Cold War
-1945:*February 4: The Yalta Conference occurs, deciding the post-war status of Germany. The Allies of World War II divide Germany into four occupation zones. The Allied nations agree that free elections are to be held in all countries occupied by Nazi Germany...
arms control
Arms control
Arms control is an umbrella term for restrictions upon the development, production, stockpiling, proliferation, and usage of weapons, especially weapons of mass destruction...
convention, was signed here by forty member nations in May 1999
Wassenaar today
Wassenaar is, as it has been since the days of Prince Frederik, an official residenceOfficial residence
An official residence is the residence at which heads of state, heads of government, gubernatorial or other senior figures officially reside...
: Willem-Alexander, Prince of Orange
Willem-Alexander, Prince of Orange
Willem-Alexander, Prince of Orange is the eldest child of Queen Beatrix and Prince Claus. Since 1980 he is the heir apparent to the throne of the Kingdom of the Netherlands. He is also the head of the House of Amsberg since the death of his father in 2002. He was in military service and he studied...
, his wife Princess Máxima of the Netherlands
Princess Máxima of the Netherlands
Princess Máxima of the Netherlands is the wife of Willem-Alexander, Prince of Orange, heir apparent to the throne of the Netherlands.-Early life and education:...
and their daughters Princess Amalia
Princess Catharina-Amalia of the Netherlands
The official origins of her given names:*Catharina has been speculated to be after Henriette Catherine of Nassau *Amalia is after Amalia of Solms-Braunfels *Beatrix is after her paternal grandmother, the Queen of the Netherlands...
, Princess Alexia
Princess Alexia of the Netherlands
Princess Alexia of the Netherlands, Princess of Orange-Nassau is the second daughter of Willem-Alexander, Prince of Orange, heir apparent to the throne of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, and Princess Máxima of the Netherlands, his spouse...
and Princess Ariane
Princess Ariane of the Netherlands
Princess Ariane of the Netherlands, Princess of Orange-Nassau is the daughter of heir apparent to the throne of the Netherlands Prince Willem-Alexander and Princess Máxima...
, live in the villa Eikenhorst at the estate De Horsten in Wassenaar; Princess Alexia was baptized at the Romanesque church in Wassenaar.
Ambassadorial residence
An ambassadorial residence is where an ambassador lives, often an official residence. In many cases it is in the same building as the chancery, which houses the embassy . Like embassies, such residences are considered inviolable and, in most cases, extraterritorial.The residences of high...
s are located here, including those of Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and South Korea
South Korea
The Republic of Korea , , is a sovereign state in East Asia, located on the southern portion of the Korean Peninsula. It is neighbored by the People's Republic of China to the west, Japan to the east, North Korea to the north, and the East China Sea and Republic of China to the south...
. In general, there is a large expatriate
Expatriate
An expatriate is a person temporarily or permanently residing in a country and culture other than that of the person's upbringing...
community of diplomat
Diplomat
A diplomat is a person appointed by a state to conduct diplomacy with another state or international organization. The main functions of diplomats revolve around the representation and protection of the interests and nationals of the sending state, as well as the promotion of information and...
s and business people in Wassenaar, largely due to its proximity to both the international organisations and embassies in The Hague and to several international schools, including the American School of the Hague
American School of The Hague
The American School of The Hague is an American school in Wassenaar, Netherlands. Children can attend the school for a maximum of 13 years, from Pre-Kindergarten to 12th grade. However, many students come and go because it is a very international school...
and the British School in the Netherlands. The Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study
Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study
The Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study in the Humanities and Social Sciences in Wassenaar, the Netherlands, is an independent research institute in the field of the humanities and social and behavioural sciences founded in 1970...
(NIAS) is also based in Wassenaar; each year, it provides research time, space and support for foreign and Dutch scholars.
As a community, Wassenaar benefits from several parks and a network of bicycle paths. Trees, mainly beech
Beech
Beech is a genus of ten species of deciduous trees in the family Fagaceae, native to temperate Europe, Asia and North America.-Habit:...
, oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
and horse chestnut, are widespread, giving the town a provincial characteristic. The town centre supports a number of high end shops, delicatessens and bakeries as well as a cafe, bar and restaurant.
Some remnants of the Atlantic wall
Atlantic Wall
The Atlantic Wall was an extensive system of coastal fortifications built by Nazi Germany between 1942 and 1944 along the western coast of Europe as a defense against an anticipated Allied invasion of the mainland continent from Great Britain.-History:On March 23, 1942 Führer Directive Number 40...
are located on Wassenaar's beach, the Wassenaarseslag; nearly a thousand meters of underground walled tunnels are present, connecting five bunkers. The network now serves as a bat
Bat
Bats are mammals of the order Chiroptera "hand" and pteron "wing") whose forelimbs form webbed wings, making them the only mammals naturally capable of true and sustained flight. By contrast, other mammals said to fly, such as flying squirrels, gliding possums, and colugos, glide rather than fly,...
sanctuary and is open to visits in the summer. The theme park Duinrell
Duinrell
Duinrell is an amusement park situated in Wassenaar, Netherlands. It also contains a caravan park and a camp-site. Duinrell has been critically acclaimed for its attraction park with swimming pool , which has the longest waterslides in the Netherlands..The park is located on the estate of the...
and the race track
Race track
A race track is a purpose-built facility for racing of animals , automobiles, motorcycles or athletes. A race track may also feature grandstands or concourses. Some motorsport tracks are called speedways.A racetrack is a permanent facility or building...
Duindigt, the only remaining grass race track in the Netherlands, are here as well.
Wassenaar has always enjoyed good relations with the neighboring town of Voorschoten
Voorschoten
Voorschoten is a village and municipality in the western Netherlands, in the province of South Holland. It is a smaller town in the Randstad, enclosed by the cities of Leiden and The Hague. The municipality covers an area of 11.59 km²...
, with which it has shared a history from time immemorial. The House of Wassenaer
House of Wassenaer
Van Wassenaer is the name of an old Dutch noble family. It was first mentioned in the county of Holland on November 3, 1200. They are one of the few original noble families from Holland that has not died out.-Origin of the name:...
, for example, historically resided in the Kasteel Duivenvoorde
Kasteel Duivenvoorde
Duivenvoorde Castle is a castle in the town of Voorschoten, South Holland, in the Netherlands. It was first mentioned in 1226, making it one of the oldest castles in South Holland....
in Voorschoten.
Notable people from Wassenaar
- Konrad BartelskiKonrad BartelskiKonrad Bartelski is a former British alpine ski racer who produced the best result by a Briton on the Alpine Skiing World Cup circuit in 1981 by coming within 0.11 seconds of winning a World Cup downhill race at Val Gardena.-Early career:...
(b. 1954), skier, lived in Wassenaar for a number of years - Theo van GoghTheo van Gogh (film director)Theodoor "Theo" van Gogh was a Dutch film director, film producer, columnist, author and actor.Van Gogh worked with the Somali-born writer Ayaan Hirsi Ali to produce the film Submission, which criticized the treatment of women in Islam and aroused controversy among Muslims...
(1957–2004), filmmaker, director, and columnist - Thom HoffmanThom HoffmanThomas Antonius Cornelis Ancion, known by the pseudonym Thom Hoffman, is a Dutch actor and photographer.- Biography :...
(b. 1957), actor and photographer - Morris TabaksblatMorris TabaksblatMorris Tabaksblat, KBE , was a Dutch captain of industry. He was a former CEO of Unilever and chairman of the Tabaksblat committee which drafted the Tabaksblat code.-Education:...
(1937-2011) ex CEO of Unilever, lived and died here - Nico van der VoetNico van der VoetNicolaas Marcus van der Voet is a former water polo player from The Netherlands, who competed in two Summer Olympics for his native country. In 1964 he finished in eighth position with the Dutch Men's Team. Four years later in Mexico City he became seventh with the Holland squad.-References:*...
(b. 1944), water polo player