The Westland is the region where I was born and lived almost half of my life. But the Westland I was born into has changed tremendously since. From a mainly agricultural and greenhouses region, it has become more and more a satellite residential area for the cities of Delft, Rotterdam and The Hague. But industrial greenhouses for flowers and vegetables still remain, and so do open spaces where cows craze - a rarity in this part of the Netherlands.
7 municipalities, 19 or 20 settlements
For a long time, the Westland consisted of 7 municipalities, with 19 settlements among them. But in 2004 an administrational organisation made two of them: the Municipality of Westland and the Municipality of Midden-Delfland. The first includes Naaldwijk (local capital), Kwintsheul, 's-Gravenzande, Heenweg, Monster, Ter Heijde, Poeldijk, Honselersdijk, De Lier, Wateringen, and Maasdijk. The latter includes Schipluiden, Den Hoorn, Maasland, 't Woudt, Hodenpijl, Ter Lucht, de Zweth and Gaag. Geographically, Hoek van Holland (Hook of Holland) is also part of the Westland region, but it is owned by Rotterdam and its huge port. Hoek van Holland has a wonderful beach, where I took a series of sunset photos with horses and people a few years ago.
Never a tourist
Growing up in this region, I cycled a lot, but never as a tourist and almost never with a camera. The Westland was the area to go to school to, go out, get drunk, hang out with friends, enjoy the beach, earn money in weekends in the tomato and bell pepper greenhouses, and to come home to. The Westland is not home any more, but as one of my friends reminds me regularly: you can take the man out of the Westland, but you can never take the Westlander out of the man.
The inner harbour of Maassluis, with the historic boat Furie and the ship Hudson.
Maassluis (Maeslandsluys)
I will slowly expand this gallery with photographs I rediscover when going through the archives, or add new ones on more recent visits as a tourist. I kick off with a few of Maassluis. Although never part of the Westland in an administrative way, it always felt connected enough to belong. The people of Maassluis (ervaarmaassluis.nl/en) will strongly disagree, of course, but until 1614 Maasland and Maeslandsluys were actually one.
Historic salvage boat Bruinvisch
Whit tipped moaring posts.
Historic salvage tow boat Tonijn and last steam-powered seagoing Dutch tugboat Fure. The Hudson is the last surviving pre-World War 2 tugboat in the Netherlands. It was used by the Allies during and took part in the invasions of North Africa and Normandy.
Yellow draw bridge in the centre of Maassluis.
Homes down of a dyke meant to defend the land with high water.
The Groote Kerk (The Big Church).
Former warehouses on the inner harbour quay.
The Marnixkade bridge in depth of field with ship robes. Only photo of these series taken in 2004.
Historic buildings in the inner harbour, like most other photos in this series taken in summer 2024.