Benthuizen

Benthuizen was formerly an independent municipality on the outskirts of Zoetermeer. Since January 1, 2014, the village has been part of Alphen aan den Rijn. De Haas Windmill, built in 1772, is one of the area's recognizable landmarks.

On January 1, 2023, the town had 3,590 inhabitants. The village grew during the twentieth century through housing construction and the arrival of new residents.

Benthuizen is located northeast of Zoetermeer and is connected to the surrounding area via the N209. Local roads connect the village with Zoetermeer, Hazerswoude-Dorp, and Gelderswoude.

The Bentwoud lies south and southeast of the village. East of Benthuizen, the HSL-Zuid tunnel begins beneath the Groene Hart. The combination of polder history, village development, and the nearby wooded area defines the geographical context of the place.

The manor of Benthusen is mentioned in a feudal deed from 1282. The settlement therefore already existed before that mention. The village's origins and development are linked to the reclamation of the peatlands.

Peat extraction was an important source of income for centuries. Excavating the peat turned large areas of land into lakes, and the population declined. After the land was poldered, the Benthuizerpolder was created and the village took on a strongly agricultural character. Peat briquettes in the former municipal coat of arms recall this history.

In the 1960s and 1970s, the village was expanded with new housing. Benthuizen remained an independent municipality until 1991. It then merged with Hazerswoude and Koudekerk aan den Rijn to form Rijneveld, which was called Rijnwoude from 1993 onward. Since 2014, Benthuizen has been part of Alphen aan den Rijn.