Z'nap your city! Theater lecture on heritage Zoetermeer

Do you know the story of the city of Zoetermeer? What is this city really like and do you know how it came to be this way? Fancy a trip through time with a bit of nostalgia? Then come to 4 Sunday afternoons Z'nap your city! at the CKC this spring. Travel together with Laurens de Groot, Man with Suitcase and the many experts, along photos maps and film images through 1000 years of Zoetermeer's heritage.

The story

From a peat bog, a settlement arises on Lake Soetermeer. A small settlement 'Soetermeer' arises and very near in time also 'Zegwaart'. After this lake was drained, a fertile polder was created: the Meerpolder. After reclamation (peat was cut, dredged, sold and burned), more and more polders are reclaimed and people can make a better living. After the development of the twin village Zegwaart-Zoetermeer into the well-known butter village Zoetermeer in the 1st half of the 20th century, Zoetermeer as a growth center will only then really start to grow explosively.

In short: get to know the story of "Oldest New Town" Zoetermeer. It is a fascinating history. A small settlement in the low moor near a freshwater lake that became a jewel of a growth center. The story goes from the year 1000 to the year 2000 and deals with the still visible heritage in the town. Man with Suitcase, Laurens de Groot, will take you on a journey through time. He will give experts the floor, introduce film footage, introduce important people for the creation of the growth center, and show old footage and hear appropriate music from the time of the past.

Suitcase with your memories

From Laurens de Groot's suitcase, the 4 afternoons will also feature memories you have shared yourself at registration about Zoetermeer and its heritage! The organization is very happy with your reminiscence mail via the mailbox. To the mail message you can of course add a nice old photo or other document. Very welcome.
Mail to: info@architectuurpuntzoetermeer.nl stating 'Suitcase with memories'.

Z'nap you remember?

This theater lecture is a collaboration of ArchitectuurPunt Zoetermeer, HGOS Historisch Genootschap Oud Soetermeer, Schatbewakers and Gilde Stadsgidsen. There are many volunteers who come to tell stories as the experts from their hobby or profession with the heritage of Zoetermeer. All stories fit into the timeline of the story Oldest New Town Zoetermeer! The funds that make this possible: Rijksfonds voor Cultuurparticipatie and VSB fund.

Who will be speaking besides presenter and theater man with suitcase Laurens de Groot? Ton Vermeulen (historian), Arjen van der Burg (urban planner, working group CHE HGOS), Botine Koopmans (art historian and heritage expert Zoetermeer), Hans Gosselink (study of the Zoetermeer City Line), Willem Hermans (urban planner and Treasure Keeper) Ad ten Ham (landscape architect for years in the service of the municipality of Zoetermeer) Leonard Korevaar (city archivist Zoetermeer), and filmmaker and "former Zoetermeer resident" Niek Nieuwenhuijsen.

Furthermore, each week there will be music by Trio Pedano, Wim Sonneveld's Het Dorp and there will be a special cookie baked for coffee and tea after the lecture by Proef! Marus van der Made, world famous 'concrete' artist in Zoetermeer and the Craftsman Lord of Zoetermeer are captured in a film interview especially for the Z'nap your city series by Niek Nieuwenhuijsen and Simone Langeveld.

Why shouldn't you miss it?

Because you really want to know the story of Zoetermeer! The story of development, of change and of a city that continues to renew itself. And... because it will be very diverse Sunday afternoons during which you will also receive the 2024 Canon of Zoetermeer's History, recently published by the Historical Society of Oud Soetermeer. This society celebrated its 75th anniversary last year.

When is it?

On 4 Sundays in March and April 2025 - a chance to spend your Sunday afternoon in a special way!

Z'nap your city! #1 1000 - 1962 on Sunday afternoon, March 16
Z'nap your city! #2 1962 - 1975 on Sunday afternoon, March 30
Z'nap your city! #3 1975 - 1985 on Sunday afternoon, April 6
Z'nap your city! #4 1985 - 2000 on Sunday afternoon, April 13

From 14:00 to 16:00 in CKC & Partners Zoetermeer, Leidsewallen 80 - Room 2.06. A single lecture is € 15 or follow the whole series for € 50. Afterwards there will be drinks and refreshments to chat and share memories!

Discover Zoetermeer's rich past in a way you won't soon forget! Go to www.architectuurpuntzoetermeer.nl | Z'nap your city! and register quickly because full is full!

Walking and biking, Z'nap your city!, with Guild City Guides

Especially for the theater lecture series Z'nap your city, Jan Henneken of Gilde City Guides has prepared walking and cycling excursions. On 4 occasions you can also experience the stories outside: 2 times by bike and 2 times on foot.

Walk historic core of Zoetermeer, on Saturday, March 22, 2025

Gather at Mill the Hope, 1st Station Street 37a. Start 14:00, gather 10 minutes before (duration about 1.5 hours).

Bike tour agricultural Zoetermeer on Saturday, March 22, 2025

Start 14:00, gather 10 minutes before (duration about 1.5 hours) at Franx, Vlamingstraat 1.

Zoetermeer parks bike ride on Saturday, April 12, 2025

Start 2 p.m., gather 10 minutes before (duration about 1.5 hours) at De Sniep, Broekwegschouw 209.

Walk former Floriade on Saturday, April 19, 2025

Start 14:00, gather 10 minutes before (duration about 1.5 hours) at Stadsboerderij De Balijhoeve, Kurkhout 100.

It is important that you register for these walking and/or biking excursions in advance through the ArchitectuurPunt website. As a participant in the course Z'nap your city!, you can register for a maximum of 2 excursions. For questions and/or comments, please send an email to stadsgidsen@gildezoetermeer.nl.