Tourist information about Heerhugowaard

Tourist Information about Heerhugowaard

From polder village to City of Opportunities
The comparatively young municipality of Heerhugowaard lies in the heart of a polder, a piece of reclaimed land called Huygenwaert.

In 1960 Heerhugowaard only had 6,800 inhabitants, while in 2007 it has a population of 50,000. Heerhugowaard has become the ‘promised land’ for many city-dwellers from the Randstad, who – in search of fresh air and space – have found their new haven in ‘De Waert’.

Inherent in its development, the polder changed so much in structure and appearance that Heerhugowaard lost its agricultural look almost entirely. Modern land development has ploughed up the old polder landscape. Where once the farmer planted potatoes, houses now rise from the ground; where once small cabbages were planted out, now a business park emerges. But the historic polder characteristics are still recognizable.

Heerhugowaard, in the heart of the province of Noord-Holland, is close to the cheese city of Alkmaar and to the Noord-Holland coast. It is an agreeable city to work and live in and has many recreational opportunities to offer.

There is a large shopping mall, Middenwaard (renovated and extended in 2006/2007). There are good bus, car and train connections to other cities, towns and villages, and club life is bubbling. A good provision of jobs exists.

The local council is actively creating facilities for its (future) inhabitants. That is why the city’s slogan is: Heerhugowaard: City of Opportunities.

Arts, Culture and Monuments
Heerhugowaard believes that its inhabitants should have a chance to participate in social and cultural life. Culture reinforces self-respect and grants the city identity. Consequently, Heerhugowaard has a lot to offer in the field of arts and culture.

Arts and Culture
Heerhugowaard has several cultural institutions:

• Artiance, Centre for Arts
  Artiance has two divisions: De Theaterschool and De Ateliers. Artiance Theaterschool organizes courses and projects in the gymnasium on Dreef 14, Heerhugowaard. In cooperation with the Theatergroep Stoepjee foundation, Artiance organizes acting classes in Heerhugowaard. For information, please contact Theo Schilder, teacher of Artiance and Stoepjee, telephone 072-5745207.
  De Ateliers are located in an outbuilding of the secondary school Huygenwaard, Middenweg 73, close to the shopping mall Middenwaard, where courses in drawing, painting and sculpting are given for children and adults. For information, please contact Artiance Alkmaar, Canadaplein 3, 1811 KE Alkmaar, telephone 072-5404335.


• Library
  The main branch of Heerhugowaard Library is situated in the City Hall, Parelhof 1. The library is housed in a beautiful building with fine architectural features. The furnishing is modern and inviting. The four-storeyed building is well-organized and easy to get around. There is an Internet cafe and a reading cafe in the library. For more information visit www.bibliotheekheerhugowaard.nl. Telephone: 072-5764800.


• ArtFarm
  This arts farm, Rustenburgerweg 126, has been a municipal monument for several years. The style of the residential part of the building (built in 1914) is Jugendstil. The yard is spacious with many old trees: an environment with atmosphere, and very suitable to work and do art justice.
  During the summer months June, July and August the ArtFarm can be visited on Sundays from 11.00am to 5.00pm, free of charge. For information about courses and workshops, please contact Mr and Mrs Beers, telephone 072-5710261, or visit the web site www.artfarm.nl.


• Artotheek (Art library)
  The Artotheek is open on Monday and Friday evenings from 7.00pm to 9.00pm and on Saturday mornings from 10.00am to 1.00pm. During July and August the Artotheek is open on Saturday mornings only. Exhibitions are held regularly.
  The Artotheek is situated in the City Hall, Parelhof 1, and can be reached by telephone 072-5764890.


• Music school
  The music school, Dijk en Waard, offers general musical and instrumental training. In addition, the music school gives short courses and accompaniment to rock bands. For specific information, please visit the music school’s web site: www.muziekschooldijkenwaard.nl. The music school is located on W.M. Dudokweg 47, telephone: 072-5719538. In 2008 the music school will move to the new Centrum voor Kunst en Cultuur (Centre for Arts and Culture), Cool, in Heerhugowaard’s Stadshart (City Heart).


• Theatre De Schakel
  Theatre De Schakel is temporarily located on Nijverheidsstraat 2B, Heerhugowaard. In 2008 De Schakel will move to the new Centrum voor Kunst en Cultuur, Cool, in Heerhugowaard’s Stadshart. For more information: www.deschakel.nu or telephone: 072- 5716879.

Monuments

• Polder Museum
  The Polder Museum, Huygendijk 17, was built in 1877, when heavy rainfall in the winter of 1874-1875 flooded a large part of the Waardse Polder for five weeks. The construction of the building – a private enterprise – was led by the polder boss at the time, J. Leguit. From 1 May to 31 October the Museum is open on Sundays from 2.00pm to 4.00pm. For groups, please make an appointment: 072-5741159.


• Transformer kiosk
  This transformer kiosk, Verlaat 46, is now considered a monument, a provincial monument even. It is one of the very few preserved and intact transformer kiosks from the first half of the 20th century, built in the Amsterdam School style. The redbrick kiosk has a parabolic roof and ornamental brickwork. In the side wall, yellow bricks have been laid in the shape of a cock as the symbol of light and a bulldog as the symbol of strength. The cycle route ‘Van Veenhuizen tot Vinex’ will take you past this kiosk.


• Mill
  The mill, Veenhuizerkade 3, is Heerhugowaard’s oldest and only remaining mill.


• The church of Veenhuizen
  In the modern Dutch Reformed church of Veenhuizen is the tomb of Reinoud van Brederode (17th century).

Nature and Recreation
Park van Luna
On entering Heerhugowaard by car, it will be hard to resist the temptation to dive into the gorgeous lake of the brand-new recreation area Park van Luna (Park of Luna). From here you have a view on Heerhugowaard’s newest and at the same time most remarkable district: Stad van de Zon (Sun City).

Stad van de Zon is the first district in the Netherlands which does not contribute to further global warming. To achieve this, various technologies have been used to make the district ‘CO2 emission neutral’. This means that the amount of CO2, or carbon dioxide, emitted in Stad van de Zon, is minimized, while at the same time as much energy as possible is generated in a durable way (without CO2 emission).

Park van Luna surrounds Stad van de Zon. When this recreation area was laid out, the shape of the old polder landscape changed. Because of the volume of earthwork done here, a completely new landscape was created with different heights and changing perspectives, a surprising alliance between land and water, with various possibilities regarding recreational use. The highest point in the park overlooks the old Huygendijk, the mill landscape and the Schermerpolder.

Park van Luna has many recreational options to offer: such as swimming, canoeing, fishing, surfing etcetera. Motorboats are not permitted on the lake. Several footpaths and cycle tracks have been laid out and there is a special track for mountain bikes. What is more, a new sports centre, SportLagune, is built which will house multiple sports facilities.

During the summer months life can be joyful on Strand van Luna (Beach of Luna), a beautiful gradually sloping beach with nice, clean sand and wonderful, pure swimming water, all sheltered by a new dyke behind which Westtangent runs. There is a bar/restaurant, nearby parking, a sunbathing area and there are recreation areas. If dog owners cooperate, the beach will be free of dogs and dog dirt.

Strand van Luna is easily accessible by bike: follow the cycle path skirting Westtangent in a southerly direction towards the end, turn left and follow the new cycle path along the water and the foot of the Waerdse Tempel. By car you have to make a detour: from Intratuin follow Middenweg towards the centre. After about 200 metres turn left just before you reach the pyramid barrier. Water and beach can be seen a short distance away.

Activities and Events
By ‘events’ is meant: festivals, competitions, street parties, parades, markets and such likes. Events can take place indoors or outdoors.

Markets in Heerhugowaard

• Annual Fair
  Every year a big annual fair is organized on the third Monday of September. In 2007 this will be on 17 September and it will be the 29th annual fair.


• Geranium and garden plant market
  Every year in May a geranium and garden plant market is organized on the square in front of the Dionysiuskerk, Middenweg 248.


• Weekly markets
  Heerhugowaard has two weekly markets:
  • On Mondays from 10.00am to 5.00pm on Raadhuisplein in what used to be the centre of Heerhugowaard.
  
  
  • On Fridays from 10.00am to 5.00pm on Stadsplein (City Square) in Stadshart (between the City Hall and shopping mall Middenwaard)


• Stationsweg market
  Every year on the first Saturday in June there is a market on the Stationsweg.

A calendar of events, which includes other events and current information, can be found on this web site.

Shopping
In Heerhugowaard most of the shops are located in the renovated shopping mall Middenwaard, where in addition to nationwide store chains, also exclusive specialist shops can be found.

Opening hours:
Monday: 1.00pm – 6.00pm
Tuesday: 9.00am – 6.00pm
Wednesday: 9.00am – 6.00pm
Thursday: 9.00am – 6.00pm
Friday: 9.00am – 9.00pm
Saturday: 9.00am – 5.00pm

For more information about the shopping mall visit www.winkelcentrummiddenwaard.nl

Sunday Shopping 2007
Middenwaard, Centrumwaard, Stationsweg and surroundings

• 25 March


• 22 April


• 20 May


• 30 September


• 28 October


• 25 November


• 16 and 23 December

Zandhorst (caravan dealers) and Beveland (home furnishing stores)

• 11 February


• 18 March


• 9 (Easter Monday) and 29 April


• 17 (Ascension Day) and 28 May


• 24 June


• 9 September


• 7 and 28 October


• 4 and 25 November

Garden Centres

• 1, 9 (Easter Monday), 22 and 29 April


• 6, 17 (Ascension Day) and 28 May (Whit Monday)


• 3 June


• 25 November


• 2, 9 and 16 December

Cycling in Heerhugowaard
In a recreational and active way Heerhugowaard introduces you to its cultural diversity by means of various mapped-out routes. These take you along existing cycle paths and roads, past monuments, visual art, architecture and hydraulic objects. The length of each route varies. They are suitable for young and old.

• Architecture Cycle Route Van Veenhuizen tot Vinex – 15 and 21 kilometres. This cycle route has two versions: the Southwest Route and the North Route.


• On the Southwest Route (15 kilometres) you will be introduced to modern Heerhugowaard, passing modern architecture and modern art in new districts. But you will also cycle past beautiful old farms on Jan Glijnisweg.


• The North Route (21 kilometres) will surprise you with a different atmosphere and setting. You will see that Heerhugowaard is a splendid mix of old and new, of green belts and water, rural quiet and the enjoyable bustle typical of a city.
  The complete version of the cycle route, with pictures and a short (Dutch) description of the objects with information about their origin or their meaning, is available at the information desk in the foyer of the City Hall on payment of €2.50. You can also download the cycle routes.


• Visual Art Cycle Route
  This route will introduce you to art objects in Heerhugowaard. You can also download this cycle route (in Dutch).

Staying in Heerhugowaard

• De Zandhorst is a business as well as a tourist hotel with several meeting/banquet facilities, located on N242, the main road to Heerhugowaard. For more information visit www.dezandhorst.nl.


• The Maria Hoeve, Oostdijk 51, is owned by the Oudhuis family. You can spend one or more nights in this traditional four-square Dutch farmhouse. Breakfast is served in the open kitchen. www.b-b-mariahoeve.nl.

Beauty and Sauna

• Sauna Oase
  Sauna Oase has several sauna baths (indoor as well as outdoor), foot baths, a Turkish bath, an indoor swimming pool, resting areas and a restaurant. The sauna is located on Industriestraat 7, telephone 072-5711012. Web site www.saunaoase.nl.


• Beauty Salon and Solarium Aurora
  This Salon is located on Komodovaraan 29, telephone 072-5716479.


• Voetverzorging Heerhugowaard (foot care)
  You can find this certified studio at Tuin van Lugh 37, on the first floor, in Stad van de Zon; for general foot care, corns, callous, chaps, ingrown nails, fungal nail infections, waxing of the lower legs and cosmetic facial treatment with Aloë vera. Telephone: 06-19023814. Web site www.voetverzorgingheerhugowaard.nl.

Restaurants

• Babylon.
  Babylon, a grand cafe/restaurant, was opened in 2006. It is located on Pannekeetweg 20, at the edge of business park Zandhorst III. It is advisable to book in advance: telephone 072-5723906. Web site www.caferestaurantbabylon.nl.


• Bolle Buik
  Pancake house, midget golf and boule. Prices: playground €0.50; midget golf €2.00; boule €2.00. Address: Dreef 8, 1071 GP Heerhugowaard.


• De Kolonist
  Eetcafé De Kolonist, Middenweg 200 in what used to be the centre of Heerhugowaard, can accommodate 90 dinner guests. During the summer months there is an outdoor café, which seats 50. Telephone 072-5349202, web site www.eetcafedekolonist.nl


• La Brocca
  This restaurant with an Italian cuisine is situated in the water. Its address is Middenwaard 89. Website www.labrocca.nl.


• Minos Pallas
  Minos Pallas, a Greek restaurant, is situated in Heerhugowaard’s Stadshart. Web site www.minospallas.nl.


• d’Olifant
  This restaurant is located on Middenweg 55 and is part of a farm converted into a restaurant. Web site www.restaurantdeolifant.nl
  
• De Snackerij Petit Restaurant
  Address: Nijverheidsstraat 2. Website: www.desnackerij.nl

Going out

• Waerdse Tempel
  The Waerdse Tempel lies on Strand van Luna and is multifunctional. It is an entertainment centre. On the programme are (well-known) national and international music stars. There is also a restaurant and a beach bar. For more information about this entertainment centre www.waerdsetempel.nl.


• Cinema JT Heerhugowaard (Metro)
  The cinema, Middenwaard 67 (near shopping mall Middenwaard), is centrally situated in Heerhugowaard’s Stadshart and has a large choice in movies. For seat reservations by telephone contact: 072-5720800. Web site www.jt.nl.

Swimming pool
Swimming pool ‘Waardergolf’ – which also houses a sports centre and a cafeteria – is located on Beukenlaan 1b. www.waardergolf.nl.