100 Years of Moederhuis

Voorschoten originated as a ribbon development on both sides of what is now Voorstraat. Running parallel to this was the Heeren- or Herenwegh, which in the^19th century was called the Straatweg from Rijswijk to Leiden.

In the year 1813, there was no town hall ( town hall ) in Voorschoten. There were 1,080 residents. The mayor lived and worked in the Baljuwhuis on Voorstraat. The town council ( municipal council ) met in a building that now houses the café “Het wapen van Voorschoten,” where a meeting room was rented. By 1894, the population had grown to 2,500, and the Baljuwhuis had become too small. A town hall was established in a private residence on Treubstraat. By 1923, the population had grown to over 4,500. Mayor E. Vernède requested that the “ municipal council ” build a representative town hall.

Architect Willem Verschoor was commissioned to investigate various locations that would be suitable for a “ town hall.” Verschoor was well known in Voorschoten because he had designed the original Vernèdepark. On November 27, 1923, Verschoor proposed three locations. The first was on Oude Dorpsstraat—now Voorstraat—at house numbers 49 and 51, on the corner of Bloklaan. Verschoor considered this location the most suitable. The second location was the current site of the “ town hall.” According to Verschoor, this location had potential because of the large lot, which offered the possibility of building several houses, a meeting hall, or something similar in the spirit of the “ town hall.” The third location was in Vernèdepark. Verschoor was not in favor of this option.

The “ municipal council ” (Voorschoten Citizens’ Association) did not agree with the construction of a town hall. Building a school with a gymnasium was considered a higher priority than building a “ town hall ” (town hall). The construction of a new public school was necessary due to the increase in the number of school-age children resulting from the 1848 Freedom of Religion Act and the Compulsory Education Act of January 1, 1901. In 1924, it was decided to build a new town hall in combination with an elementary school and a gymnasium. The complex had to blend into the surroundings and reflect the character of Voorschoten.

Historically, town halls were primarily an expression of a city’s power and prosperity, as reflected in their stately architecture and numerous symbolic references. This changed in the nineteenth century, when town halls increasingly took on a service-oriented role. The number of municipal tasks and the size of the civil service grew, placing greater demands on the buildings and leading to their expansion. Town halls also became more accessible to citizens. As a result, many new town halls were built during the interwar period. The town hall in Voorschoten is an example of this. On October 15, 1926, the new “ town hall ” was officially opened. Concurrent with the construction of the “ town hall ,” an initial section of what is now Koningin Julianalaan was built on the southwest side of the road.

Willem Verschoor outlined his design vision as follows:

•  The complex must blend into its surroundings and be in keeping with the character of Voorschoten. 
• The town hall must have a representative character within the complex and, as its principal element, dominate it, with the result that the school and the caretaker’s residence are subordinate elements. 
•  The architecture of the complex is “contemporary, yet unobtrusive, distinguished, and understated.” 
•  The council chamber is a space “without false ostentation, with a dignified character and a distinguished air.”

Within fifteen years, the town hall had become too small. On June 7, 1941, architect M. Laurentius was commissioned by the mayor and aldermen to renovate the town hall and add several new rooms. On the grounds behind the town hall, several new offices, consultation rooms, and coat check areas were constructed. The fire station garage was converted into an office. The new building was put into use at the end of December 1941. In 1948, the route of the road that ran in front of the town hall was partially rerouted onto the grounds of the Reformed Church and extended to what is now Wijngaardenlaan. The road was named Koningin Julianalaan. In the years that followed, this became an increasingly important intersection for through traffic. The rerouting of the road separated the town hall from the village.

Starting in 1950, the ideas for educational reform that had emerged since 1920 began to influence education on a large scale. The economic crisis of the 1930s and the outbreak of war in May 1940 hindered these developments. After World War II, the government had significantly greater financial resources, and a period of recovery began. Shortly after World War II (1950), the Parkschool was expanded with four new classrooms. The four new classrooms were located behind the existing wing on the northwest side.

After World War II, Voorschoten experienced explosive growth, causing the “ town hall ” to become too small. In 1985, the Parkschool next to the “ town hall ” became vacant. The classrooms were repurposed as office spaces. The entire interior layout of the classrooms was removed. 

In 1988, a major renovation was carried out under the direction of architect J.H. Koorman of Delft. 

The former gym, the fire station garage, the connecting wing, and the addition to the 1941 wing were completely demolished. A new two-story addition was built on the site. This addition provided space for new offices.

In 1995, Topos Architects completed a new addition on the north side of the 1950 school wing. The street-facing facade of the 1940 wing was preserved.

The wood carvings in the council chamber were designed by Maarten Zwollo (Amsterdam, 1867 – Voorschoten, 1928), an engraver, sculptor, and silversmith. Zwolle joined J.M. van Kempen & Sons (later the Royal Van Kempen & Begeer) in 1895 and worked as a medalist and modeler of silverware. After World War I, he primarily created commemorative plaques and models. After working at the Silver Factory for nearly thirty years, Zwollo established himself as an independent silversmith in Voorschoten in 1923.

Zwollo was commissioned to design a triptych with a wooden relief for the council chamber. In the council chamber, we can see that only the center panel has been completed.

In the central part of Zwollo’s design drawing is Lady Justice, who calls for council decisions to be based on “truth and justice.” All interests must be carefully weighed. In the design sketch, Lady Justitia is flanked (on the left) by a couple uniting in marriage out of love and (on the right) by a child being welcomed into the world. The design thus refers to three important functions of the “ Town hall ”: administrative center, wedding venue, and the management of the Civil Registry.

There are various stories circulating about why there is only a single woodcarving in the center. For example, it is said that the chairman, Mayor Vernede, found the overall design too busy. It’s also said that creating all three panels would have been too expensive. And what about the bare torsos of the woman and man—were they considered offensive? Whatever the case may be, the City Council’s proposal to create only the center panel was approved unanimously.

On the facade of the Moederhuis, there are four carved animal reliefs. They rest on the masonry piers of the facade openings near the council chamber, above the (old) main entrance.

The two owls, the hawk, and the pelican each have a symbolic meaning: The owl represents wisdom and intuition, the hawk represents decisiveness and keen insight, and the pelican represents charity and self-sacrifice.

Architecture of the Hague School often features stylized depictions of animals, such as animals cast in concrete on the facade or sculpted animal reliefs in stone, rendered in clean, geometric forms.