The Village Church is the oldest building in Schipluiden. Nearby are a timber-truss arch bridge spanning 60 metres, historic farm architecture and a marked route through water and agricultural landscapes. This combination appeals to travellers who want to combine architectural history with landscapes and nature watching.
Church, Keenenburg and Tram Bridge
Inside the Village Church are family coats of arms, the Keenenburg pew, a crypt and tomb monuments connected with Keenenburg Castle. These features help place the church in context not only through its age, but also through specific traces of its history.
The Tram Bridge spans 60 metres and is built as a timber-truss arch bridge. Its tie rods are made of fully rolled iron and steel and are riveted. Its cultural and historical significance lies in its role as a reminder of the infrastructure built for the growing horticultural sector in the Westland. Unlike the church interior, the focus here is on the structure—and its connection to the development of horticulture.
Historic sites and architecture
The Het Tramstation Museum has a fully preserved interior with an Art Nouveau waiting room. The building is a relatively recent listed monument and provides another architectural point of interest in Schipluiden.
The Hodenpijl complex is a relatively well-preserved 17th-century farmstead. The historic site includes waterways, an access causeway, a former kitchen garden with a garden wall, an orchard, a courtyard and a shelterbelt. Here, buildings and traces of gardens can be viewed together, rather than reading the history from a single façade.
The fully restored church and rectory at Op Hodenpijl opened its doors in 2007 as a centre for reflection and community. A 2021 article also describes the information centre at De Levende Buitenplaats Hodenpijl: visitors can get information about the surrounding area and take in the view. Check what visitor options are currently available before your trip.
Route, waterscape and nature
Rondje Schipluiden is a marked route. It passes rivers and canals, lakes, ponds and pools, as well as bird and wildlife habitats, and runs through agricultural land. Water, wildlife and cultivated land shape different sections of the route. Conditions may change along the way; take this into account when planning.
The Eendenkooi Schipluiden offers another perspective on nature: ducks are still caught and ringed there, but not for consumption—for scientific research. The site is not open to the public, so you cannot include it as a visitor destination in your itinerary.
Cyclists also have a specific local landmark: Paviljoen ’t Middelpunt is on the Vlaardingsevaart, near Schipluiden’s old village centre, and can be reached via several cycling routes.
When choosing a destination, the difference is clear: those interested in architectural history can find different perspectives in the Village Church, the Tram Bridge and the Hodenpijl complex. Those who mainly want to experience the landscape can follow Rondje Schipluiden and take in the route’s natural and agricultural landscapes.
Discover more destinations: Den Hoorn, Maasland.
Back to the main travel overview: Midden-Delfland.
