Where It's Located
The temple is located at:
Osylaan 2
2722 CV Zoetermeer
Netherlands
Although it is officially called the The Hague Netherlands Temple, the temple is actually located in Zoetermeer, a city just east of The Hague.
Zoetermeer is part of the densely populated Randstad region of the Netherlands, making the temple accessible to Latter-day Saints throughout the western part of the country.
Getting There
For international travelers, Amsterdam Airport Schiphol is the major international airport serving the region.
The temple is also accessible by the Netherlands' extensive public transportation network, making it particularly convenient compared with many temples that require a rental car.
There is no public visitors' center, arrival center, or patron housing at the temple. A distribution center is located on site.
The First Temple in the Netherlands
The The Hague Netherlands Temple was the first temple built in the Netherlands. It was also the eighth temple constructed in Europe.
Its construction marked a significant milestone for Latter-day Saints in the Netherlands, giving members a temple within their own country instead of requiring them to travel to temples elsewhere in Europe.
Temple Announcement
The temple was announced on August 16, 1999.
The announcement came during a period of significant temple expansion in Europe, as the Church sought to make temple worship more accessible to members outside the traditional temple centers of the United States.
Groundbreaking
Groundbreaking and site dedication took place on August 26, 2000.
John K. Carmack presided over the groundbreaking ceremony.
Construction proceeded relatively quickly, with the temple completed in approximately two years.
A Church Building Was Removed
One of the more unusual parts of the temple's history is that an existing Church meetinghouse had to be demolished to make room for the temple.
The property was located in a city park, and local regulations allowed only one building on the site.
Rather than construct both buildings, the Church chose to remove the existing meetinghouse and use the property for the temple.
Public Open House
The temple held its public open house from August 17 through August 31, 2002.
The open house lasted 14 days and allowed members of the public to tour the completed temple before its dedication.
Dedication
President Gordon B. Hinckley dedicated the The Hague Netherlands Temple on September 8, 2002.
It became the 114th dedicated temple in operation.
Interestingly, President Hinckley dedicated the temple just one day after rededicating the Freiberg Germany Temple.
Architecture
The temple contains approximately 14,477 square feet of floor space.
The exterior is finished with polished granite, giving the building a clean and distinctive appearance.
The temple features a single attached spire topped by an Angel Moroni statue.
Temple Facilities
The temple contains:
- Two instruction rooms
- Two sealing rooms
- One baptistry
The instruction rooms use a two-stage progressive design.
The "Sweet Lake Temple"
Perhaps the most fun fact about this temple is its nickname.
The temple is located in Zoetermeer, which translates roughly to "Sweet Lake" in English.
So while Utah has the famous Salt Lake Temple, the Netherlands has what could jokingly be called the "Sweet Lake Temple."
It's one of the better geographical coincidences among Latter-day Saint temples.
The Temple Is Below Sea Level
The The Hague Netherlands Temple sits at an elevation of approximately -4 feet, or -1 meter.
That makes its location particularly appropriate for a country famous for its relationship with water.
Much of the Netherlands lies at or below sea level, and the country has spent centuries building dikes, canals, pumping systems, and other infrastructure to manage water.
Going Down Instead of Up
The Netherlands has very limited available land, particularly in its densely populated urban areas.
The temple's property covers only 2.7 acres, and the parcel is just slightly larger than the actual footprint of the temple.
The city built a parking lot adjacent to the temple, but the Church wanted to maintain some parking under its own control.
There wasn't much room to expand horizontally.
So there was only one direction left to go:
Down.
The Underground Parking Garage
The temple complex includes an underground parking structure capable of holding approximately 40 cars, along with space for many bicycles.
That is a particularly fitting solution in the Netherlands, where bicycles are an essential part of everyday transportation.
It also demonstrates how the temple's design was influenced by the unique realities of its Dutch setting.
A Temple Designed for Its Environment
The The Hague Netherlands Temple is a good example of how temple architecture can respond to local circumstances.
Instead of requiring a huge property, the temple makes efficient use of a relatively tiny parcel.
Instead of building a large surface parking lot, parking was placed underground.
And instead of ignoring the Netherlands' unique geography, the temple exists in a city where the ground itself is below sea level.
Exploring Zoetermeer
Zoetermeer is a modern Dutch city located approximately between The Hague and Gouda.
The city has:
- Parks
- Lakes
- Cycling paths
- Modern shopping areas
- Restaurants
- Historic farmhouses
- Outdoor recreation
It's an easy place to use as a base while exploring the broader region.
Exploring The Hague
The Hague is one of the Netherlands' most important cities and is an easy addition to a temple trip.
The city is known for:
- Dutch government institutions
- Historic architecture
- Museums
- The Peace Palace
- Scheveningen Beach
- Royal residences
- International organizations
Binnenhof
The Binnenhof is one of the Netherlands' most famous historic complexes.
Located in central The Hague, it has served as a center of Dutch political life for centuries.
Its historic buildings and courtyard make it one of the city's most recognizable landmarks.
The Peace Palace
The Peace Palace is another major attraction.
The building houses international legal institutions and is strongly associated with international peace and justice.
Its presence is fitting in a city that serves as an important center for international diplomacy and law.
Mauritshuis
Art lovers should visit the Mauritshuis, one of the Netherlands' premier museums.
The museum is particularly famous for its collection of Dutch Golden Age paintings, including works by Johannes Vermeer and Rembrandt.
Scheveningen Beach
The Hague also provides access to the North Sea.
Scheveningen is the city's famous seaside district, with a long sandy beach, restaurants, a pier, and a lively waterfront.
It's a fun contrast to the temple's peaceful setting in nearby Zoetermeer.
Dutch Cycling Culture
One of the easiest ways to appreciate the region is by bicycle.
The Netherlands is famous for its extensive network of dedicated bicycle paths.
The temple itself even has parking designed to accommodate many bicycles, reflecting how deeply cycling is integrated into Dutch transportation.
A temple trip here could therefore look very different from a typical American temple trip.
You could literally ride your bike to the temple.
Dutch Food
Visitors should also try traditional Dutch food while in the area.
Popular options include:
- Stroopwafels
- Bitterballen
- Dutch pancakes
- Herring
- Patat
- Poffertjes
- Gouda cheese
And yes, eating a stroopwafel while walking around the Netherlands is basically mandatory.
Why the The Hague Temple Matters
The temple's importance goes beyond its relatively modest size.
It gave Latter-day Saints in the Netherlands a temple within their own country.
For a densely populated country with excellent transportation, the temple's location in Zoetermeer makes it accessible to members throughout the Netherlands.
A Temple Built on Limited Land
The temple is also an excellent example of adapting a temple project to local conditions.
The Church had only 2.7 acres to work with, and local restrictions limited the number of buildings that could occupy the site.
The solution was to maximize the available space and put parking underground.
That makes the temple one of the more interesting examples of efficient temple site design.
A Temple Below Sea Level
The temple's elevation of approximately -4 feet gives it another distinction.
Few temple facts are as memorable as being able to say:
"This temple is below sea level."
In the Netherlands, however, that is hardly unusual.
Current Status
The The Hague Netherlands Temple is currently operating and is the 114th dedicated temple in operation.
Key milestones include:
- Announcement: August 16, 1999
- Groundbreaking: August 26, 2000
- Public open house: August 17–31, 2002
- Dedication: September 8, 2002
- Current status: Operating
Planning a Temple Visit
Those planning to attend should check the temple's current operating schedule before traveling.
The temple has a distribution center, but no public visitors' center, arrival center, or patron housing.
Because of its location near The Hague, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, and other major Dutch cities, the temple can easily be incorporated into a broader Netherlands trip.
Final Thoughts
The The Hague Netherlands Temple may not be one of the Church's largest or most elaborate temples, but it has an unusually interesting story.
Announced on August 16, 1999, it became the first temple in the Netherlands and the eighth temple built in Europe.
The temple was built in Zoetermeer, a city whose name translates to "Sweet Lake." That gives the temple a fun unofficial connection to Utah's Salt Lake Temple: Utah has the Salt Lake Temple, while the Netherlands has the "Sweet Lake Temple."
The site itself presented a unique challenge. Located in a city park, local regulations allowed only one building on the property, so an existing Church building had to be demolished to make room for the temple.
The Church also had very little land to work with. The 2.7-acre property was only slightly larger than the temple's footprint, so instead of expanding outward, the Church went underground. The resulting parking structure holds about 40 cars and many bicycles.
Even more remarkably, the temple sits approximately four feet below sea level.
President Gordon B. Hinckley dedicated the temple on September 8, 2002, making it the 114th dedicated temple in operation.
Today, the temple stands as a beautiful example of how temples can be adapted to their surroundings. Its polished granite exterior, single Angel Moroni spire, underground parking, bicycle accommodations, tiny urban property, and below-sea-level location all make it distinctly Dutch.
For Latter-day Saint travelers, a visit to the The Hague Netherlands Temple could easily become part of an unforgettable Netherlands trip—combining temple worship with Dutch cycling, canals, museums, historic The Hague, North Sea beaches, Dutch food, and one of the most geographically interesting temple sites in the world.
Scott & Riah
Brough Made
broughmade.com
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