Ironing, linen and textiles in Berkel en Rodenrijs
Berkel en Rodenrijs lie in the Berkel and Rodenrijs polders, peatland reclaimed in the twelfth century, which for centuries had a self-sufficient agricultural character. Along the Noordeindseweg and Dorpsstraat in the nineteenth century stood dozens of small farmsteads and a handful of artisan businesses: the smith, the cooper, the clog merchant and — village tradition that it was — a village ironer who had the farming households' Sunday work ready from Monday to Friday.
On Sunday, the whole of Berkel gathered at the Dutch Reformed or Reformed Church. The Berkel Sunday shirt was traditionally white cotton with a high starched collar attached to the body of the shirt by means of a stud — a detachable collar, washed, starched, shaped and pressed separately from the shirt itself. That detachable-collar system meant a single shirt had several collars, and that after three or four wears a collar was once again presented fresh to the ironer.
Berkel en Rodenrijs is now a sizeable municipality, part of Lansingerland, with much new-build development in Meerpolder, Westpolder and Oudeland. The number of inhabitants has tripled in 30 years. Many young families, many commuters towards Rotterdam and The Hague.
Since 2013 we have been driving from our laundry on the Henricuskade through Berkel en Rodenrijs on fixed mornings. Laundry bag collected, ironed, delivered — same driver.
How does Strijkservice Haaglanden work in Berkel en Rodenrijs?
For residents of Berkel en Rodenrijs our service works exactly as in the rest of Haaglanden: on a fixed day of the week our driver comes by, picks up your laundry bag and brings your laundry back clean and crisply ironed. No appointment needed — your routine is set.
You get one regular driver and a fixed pickup rhythm so you always know what to expect. No carrying, no full drying racks in the living room, no evenings at the ironing board.
Everything is handled in our own laundry on Henricuskade in The Hague. Shirts, blouses, table linen, bed and bath textiles — we iron it the way it should go back into the cupboard at home, neatly folded and ready to use.