The Groenzoom, a 450-hectare nature and recreation area, lies between the municipalities of Lansingerland and Pijnacker-Nootdorp. Zoetermeer-Rokkeveen borders the area. This brings together different highlights for a trip to Pijnacker: trails through a larger landscape, walks in the town centre and historical landmarks in the town.
The Groenzoom and its routes
The Groenzoom offers a clear focus on nature and recreation. If you want to explore on foot, you can use the starting point of the Groenzoom walking route as a guide: it is a five-minute walk from Pijnacker Zuid metro station. The time given refers to the walk from the station to the starting point.
There is also a specific connection to the Groenzoom for cyclists. The section of the “Historic green cycling route between Pijnacker-Nootdorp, Lansingerland and Rotterdam” that lies east of Pijnacker’s built-up area passes through the area. The two routes therefore differ in how you travel: one is described as a walking route with a starting point near the metro station, while the other is part of a longer historic cycling route.
In the municipality of Pijnacker-Nootdorp, visitors can also use signposted walking and cycling routes through recreation areas. This municipal-level offering complements the specific information about the Groenzoom: when planning, you can take into account the individual walking route, the described cycling-route section and the wider choice of routes through recreation areas.
Walks and art in Pijnacker
There is an art route in the centre of Pijnacker. You can view works of art in public spaces while taking a walk. This combines a stroll around town with outdoor art, making it a different focus from the walk through the Groenzoom.
Two circular walks with different routes through the streets are available for historic strolls. Circular walk 1 passes through the Oude dorp and along Kerkweg, Julianastraat and Zuiderstraat. Circular walk 2 follows Oostlaan and Westlaan. Both historic walks are available to download as PDFs. The streets listed can help you choose: the first route passes through several areas and streets, while the second covers two streets.
Another historic route available in the centre is called “Monumentale bomenwandeling centrum”. Together with the art route, it offers more options for walks in the centre; historic circular walks 1 and 2, by contrast, are described by their respective routes through the streets.
Architectural heritage and remembrance
The architectural heritage also reflects different historical periods. The Dorpskerk in Pijnacker is listed as a Rijksmonument under number 32257. At Overgauwseweg 50, the entrance gate forms part of the Vredebest farm complex, which dates from the 17th century. The gate itself was made in the second half of the 19th century.
Another landmark is the farm at Noordweg 39, whose masonry bears the year 1666. The farm also contains a richly carved bed alcove wall from the time it was built, with tiles beneath it. The date on the masonry and the dating of the Vredebest gate refer to different architectural features and should therefore not be read as a single construction date.
There are also specific landmarks commemorating the past. The war memorial in Pijnacker remembers four residents of the municipality of Pijnacker-Nootdorp who lost their lives as a result of acts of war. In 2024, five Stolpersteine were also laid in the municipality of Pijnacker-Nootdorp in front of the former homes of Jewish residents who were murdered during the Second World War. These memorials add another aspect of local history to the art and architectural heritage.
Discover more destinations: Delfgauw, Nootdorp.
Go to the regional travel overview: Pijnacker-Nootdorp.
