Historical styles
All styles from before 1940 are considered historical styles, from Gothic to Jugendstil. In Zoetermeer, historic styles are found mainly in the Dorpsstraat and along old access roads such as the Voorweg and Zegwaartse weg.
Styles vary widely, but mainly in details and ornamentation rather than in general building principles. Buildings all have wood construction with (plastered) brick facades, a limited range of materials and colors, large windows subdivided with stiles, bars and rods, a decorated gable end (cornice, gable top) a particularized plinth (first floor facade), a pointed gable end (usually hood), and much ornamentation in the form of decorated keystones and gable ends, figuratively carved woodwork of bay windows and eaves, brick or stuccoed ornamental borders and so on.