ABOUT THE VILLAGE: NAALDWIJK

The village of Naaldwijk is the most important village of the Westland region, the area between The Hague, Hook of Holland, Rotterdam and Delft. Since January 1st, 2004, it is the capital of the new Community 'Westland' including at about 95.000 inhabitants. Naaldwijk itself has a surface of 25 square kilometers, and at about 30.000 inhabitants.

Naaldwijk has a regional function within the Westland area, with its important horticulture (vegetables and fruit) and culture of flowers. The big Flower Auction and the Centre for Vegetable and Fruit Research are situated within the Naaldwijk borders. The industrial sector includes many subcontractors, among others builders of greenhouses.

In the centre of Naaldwijk you can find a nice little court ("hofje") with a chapel, built by Frederik Hendrik in the beginning of the 17th century, see drawing. There is also a horticulture museum in the centre (house Cruisbrouck), and the townhall, built in 1632. The old church has been built between the 13th and the 15th century.

The Naaldwijk area has been inhabited since Roman times. In 1997 they have found between Naaldwijk and Rijswijk four ancient mile stones from Roman days. They have been found together in one spot, unique in the Netherlands!

ABOUT THE SCHOOL: ISW "HET WESTLAND"

The "Westland College", since the year 1995 a part of a large school community all over the Westland region ("Interconfessionele Scholengemeenschap het Westland", in short: "ISW"), has been founded in 1975. In that year the school started with only seven classes and 12 teachers in an old building in the centre of Naaldwijk. The present schoolbuilding at Tiendweg is - partially - in use since 1976, while the whole building has been finished one year later. Since 1980 the school is 'complete' from class number 1 up to and including number 6.

In this school year - 2004/2005 - we have at about 1240 students in 46 groups: 9 groups of class number 1 (from age 12), 10 groups number 2, and so on, to 3 groups of class number 6. In fact it is more complicated: Our school has two different levels. The lower level ("HAVO", Hoger Algemeen Voortgezet Onderwijs, Higher Common Continued Education) prepares for the higher vocational trainings, while the upper level ("VWO", Voorbereidend Wetenschappelijk Onderwijs, Preparing Scientific Education) will give admittance to the Universities. At the end of the first year the pupils have been selected into the HAVO or the VWO level. From class number 2 on there are in fact these two levels.

The HAVO level has a course of 5 years, the VWO level 6 years. The last two/three years (4- and 5-HAVO, 4-, 5- and 6-VWO) the students have to select their exam programme. The 'SWEA groups' are from the 5-VWO level.

In the average each student has nearly 35 lessons a week, seven lessons each day: 8.15 to 11.55, 12.25 to 15.10 (or 16.00).

In this school year there are 85 teachers and 20 other persons working in our school building at Tiendweg 3 (including 17 classrooms in our "garden"!). The whole school community "ISW" has 300 teachers and more than 4000 students! Nobody knows all of them....