Benthuizen is a village in the
Dutch province of
South Holland
South Holland ( nl, Zuid-Holland ) is a province of the Netherlands with a population of over 3.7 million as of October 2021 and a population density of about , making it the country's most populous province and one of the world's most densely ...
. It is a part of the municipality of
Alphen aan den Rijn
Alphen aan den Rijn (; en, "Alphen upon Rhine" or "Alphen on the Rhine") is a city and municipality in the western Netherlands, in the province of South Holland. The city is situated on the banks of the river Oude Rijn (Old Rhine), where the r ...
and lies about 1 km east of
Zoetermeer.
History
Benthuizen was described between 1280 and 1287.
Benthuizen developed as a
peat excavation settlement in the Late Middle Ages.
The Dutch Reformed church is a T-shaped aisleless church which was built between 1796 and 1797. The tower dates from 1672. The church was restored and extended on the north side between 1937 and 1938.
Until 1991 Benthuizen was an independent municipality in that year the municipality became part of the larger municipality ''Rijneveld''. In 1993 the name was changed to
Rijnwoude
Rijnwoude () was a municipality in the western Netherlands, in the province of South Holland. The municipality covered an area of of which was water.
Rijnwoude was formed in 1991 as Rijneveld through the merger of the former municipalities of ...
, and in 2014 it became part of Alphen aan den Rijn.
The
HSL-Zuid being constructed passes Benthuizen on the eastern side. Also the new
Bentwoud (forest) is planted to the east of Benthuizen.
Benthuizen has several buildings that are officially designated monuments. One of these is the historic
windmill known as molen de Haas. The
grist mill dates from 1772. In 1924, an electro motor was installed. Demolition of the windmill was considered several times, but in 1983 restoration began and the windmill was back in service in 1985. The windmill grinds both for human consumption and fodder.
Gallery
File:Benthuizen d 11 AH GM Dorpsstr 22 Woonhuis 21052020.jpg, House in Benthuizen
File:Benthuizen dorpsstraat kerk hervormde gemeente.jpg, Dutch Reformed church
File:Benthuizen d 11 AH GM Secr Runsinkbrink 1 Raadhuis 21052020.jpg, Former town hall
File:Benthuizen dorpsstraat.jpg, Street view
References
{{Authority control
Populated places in South Holland
Former municipalities of South Holland
Alphen aan den Rijn
