Poeldijk’s history offers several distinct points of interest: the Gantel as a reference point for the origins of the settlement, the development of horticulture, historic buildings, and archaeological and religious traces. For a different kind of leisure activity, Van der Ende Racing & Fun in Poeldijk offers karting for recreational drivers, as well as laser tag and various team games. These topics can help you decide whether you want your stay to focus mainly on cultural history or also include active pursuits.
The Gantel in local history
Poeldijk developed along the Gantel River’s northern dike. The passage under the Witte Brug is also connected with the river: it offered some producers in the area the shortest route to the Gantel and the hinterland. The dike and the passage represent different contexts—the origins of the settlement on the one hand, and a historic transport route for producers on the other. Since 1970, the Gantel has been used for recreational purposes. This leisure use adds another perspective on the river, alongside its role in the history of the settlement and transport.
Building history and horticulture
Torenzicht was built in 1914 as a classic manor house with distinctive Art Nouveau elements and has been a municipal monument since 2013. It takes its name from the estate of the same name, a castle-like manor house that stood at this location between the Gantel and Wateringseweg from 1723. The dates refer to different building histories: 1723 relates to the estate that gave Torenzicht its name, while 1914 refers to the manor house. The description of Torenzicht thus combines a classic architectural type with distinctive Art Nouveau elements and an older namesake.
The De Arckelsteijn farm dates from 1717 and is a building of the longhouse type. It is one of the sights along the Poeldijk walking route. Unlike Torenzicht, De Arckelsteijn is notable for its longhouse form, while Torenzicht is classified as a classic manor house. The two building types provide a concrete comparison for anyone interested in the architectural forms found in local history.
The auction building at Monsterseweg 6 is the only surviving auction hall from the heyday of horticulture in the 1920s and 1930s. The area around Poeldijk consisted of layers of peat, which provided fertile soil for greenhouse horticulture. Together, these facts offer two perspectives on horticulture: its natural soil base and a surviving auction hall from a period of economic prosperity. Alongside the building history of individual farms and houses, horticulture was another defining historical context.
Archaeological and religious traces
The Poeldijk - Wateringseweg site contains the remains of a Roman villa complex and a settlement of local inhabitants. These archaeological remains add a much earlier period to the area’s architectural and economic history. The parish of H. Bartholomeus has a history dating back to 1252, when the Poeldijk chapel was named after Saint Bartholomew. Thus, alongside manor houses, farms and the development of horticulture, archaeology and local religious history are among the different themes that help put Poeldijk in context.
Leisure activities as a different focus
Van der Ende Racing & Fun offers karting for recreational drivers in Poeldijk; laser tag and various team games are also available. This is a different focus from local and architectural history. When planning your trip, you can therefore consider whether you want cultural topics to take centre stage or whether you would also like to include these active leisure activities.
Discover more destinations: Ter Heijde, Naaldwijk, De Lier, ’s-Gravenzande
Return to the main travel overview: Westland.
