Open Monument Day 2024: On the road – Zoetermeer active

Alderman Wim Blansjaar will open this year’s Open Monument Day Zoetermeer 2024 on Saturday 14 September at 10:00 am at the former port of Zoetermeer, at Leidsewallen 41. He will unveil a historical information board about this port that was used here for centuries.

Theme On the road!

The theme this year is On the road, Routes, networks and connections. A broad theme that refers to being on the journey from A to B, literally being in motion, the transformation from old to new, from past to present. This can be physical, over land and water, but also spiritual through meditation or a pilgrimage or in time through, for example, a digital time travel. These three forms of being on the road are reflected in the programme and booklet of Open Monument Day Zoetermeer 2024.

Plan

All 22 locations are open on September 14. Some locations are also open on Sunday September 15. New participants this year include the Stadshart fire station with the Stichting Historisch Brandweermaterieel and the Bakkerswinkel with the Mobile Test Zoetermeer by Piet Hekker. There are numerous music performances and activities to attend at various locations, such as Pro Patria and Parkours Disciplines in Gymworld, music theatre company Cantiamo in the Oude Kerk and a guided walk around the Buurvaart. This year, the cycle route will take you past all participating locations.

Specially this year, De Pelgrim, an organization for meeting, reflection and meaning for all Zoetermeerders, has created a pilgrimage route along the many religious buildings that Zoetermeer is rich in and that open their doors on Saturday. The City Pilgrimage is a walk of about an hour and a half, starting at the Advent Church, Julianalaan 3. A flyer about the walk is also available there.

The Historical Society Oud Soetermeer has set up a special exhibition on the theme: ‘Zoetermeer Onderweg’. The exhibition can be seen in the association building of HGOS, Dorpsstraat 132.

At the antique and flea market that takes place on September 14 In addition to the annual theme, various vintage cars can also be seen in the Dorpsstraat.

This year, attention is paid to the Battle of Zoetermeer. This was delivered 450 years ago at the Voorweg, two weeks before the Relief of Leiden. On September 20, a historical sign will be unveiled at the children’s farm Het Buitenbeest, Voorweg 93. By means of a digital time travel, it can be seen what Zoetermeer looked like on September 17, 1574. The program booklet provides information about the start of the digital journey.

Class day

This year, the Open Monument Class Day will take place in Zoetermeer for the third time. Approximately 900 children from groups 7 and 8 of a number of Zoetermeer primary schools will receive introductory lessons and then visit a monument.

Program booklet

The program booklet is available free of charge at the De Kler bookstore in the Stadshart, at the Pop-up exhibition ONS Zoetermeer, Stadshuisplein 21, in the Forum Stadhuisplein 1 at the library and the Architectuurpunt and at HGOS, Dorpsstraat 132. During Open Monument Day, the booklet is also available at the participating locations. The most recent information can be found at www.openmonumentendag.nl/zoetermeer and at www.facebook.com/OMDZoetermeer.

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