Huize Bijdorp Country Estate to Get Three New Street Names
The City Council has approved three new street names in the Buitenplaats Huize Bijdorp neighborhood. The street names were chosen in close consultation with the Dominican Sisters and refer to the congregation and its history.
The Congregation of St. Catherine of Siena purchased the Huize Bijdorp country estate nearly 148 years ago. Last year, with an eye toward the future, the Dominican Sisters transferred ownership of the estate to a leaseholder. This brought the redevelopment of Huize Bijdorp within reach. These developments in the Huize Bijdorp Country Estate project are now at an advanced stage.
Intangible Cultural Heritage
Mayor Stemerdink: “The redevelopment of Huize Bijdorp, along with the city council’s request for appropriate street names, offers an opportunity to preserve the tangible and intangible heritage of the congregation for Voorschoten. We held extensive consultations with the Dominican Sisters, who naturally had their own ideas about new street names. Together, we made some excellent choices that reflect both the history of the country estate and the history of Voorschoten.”
Catherine of Siena
It wasn’t just the Dominican Sisters who contributed ideas. The leaseholder, the developer, and the board of the heritage foundation were also included in the discussions. Ultimately, it was decided to name the access road from Koninklijke Marinalaan “Catharina van Sienalaan,” as a clear reference to the congregation. One of the side paths off Catharina van Sienalaan will be called “Dominicanessenpad.” This, too, is a clear reference to the Congregation of Saint Catherine of Siena, also known as the Dominican Sisters of Voorschoten. A second side road will be named “Farensbach Hof,” in reference to the family that lived at the Buitenplaats on behalf of the congregation.