Editing Wassenaar (section)

===Modern history===
[[File:Oud-Wassenaar_kasteel.JPG|thumb|left|Old Castle of Wassenaar]]
[[Image:Wassenaar1.jpg|thumb|left|''De Langstraat'', the main shopping street in Wassenaar]]

Since the days of Prince Frederik, Wassenaar has often served as an [[official residence]]: [[King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands]], his wife, [[Queen Máxima of the Netherlands]], and their daughters lived in the villa ''Eikenhorst'' at the [[estate (land)|estate]] ''De Horsten'' in Wassenaar from 2003 until 2019;<ref>{{Cite web |title=Villa Eikenhorst {{!}} De Horsten Royal Estates |url=https://www.royal-house.nl/topics/de-horsten-royal-estates/villa-eikenhorst |access-date=2022-06-09 |website=Royal House of the Netherlands |archive-date=2021-11-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211129154138/https://www.royal-house.nl/topics/de-horsten-royal-estates/villa-eikenhorst |url-status=dead }}</ref> Princess Alexia was baptized at the Romanesque church in Wassenaar. The princesses attended the Bloemcampschool in Wassenaar, founded in 1931.

From 1970 until its relocation to [[Amsterdam]] in 2016, the [[Netherlands Institute for Advanced Study]] (NIAS) which provides research time, space and support for foreign and Dutch scholars, was located in Wassenaar<ref>{{Cite web |title=History {{!}} NIAS |url=https://nias.knaw.nl/who-we-are/history/ |access-date=2022-06-09 |website=nias.knaw.nl}}</ref> and the [[Netherlands Institute of International Relations Clingendael]], is situated in [[Huys Clingendael]].

The [[Embassy of the United States, The Hague|U.S. Embassy The Hague]] as well as several [[ambassadorial residence]]s are located here, including those of [[Canada]], [[South Korea]], [[Indonesia]], and [[Ireland]]. In general, there is a large [[expatriate]] community of [[diplomat]]s and business people in Wassenaar, largely due to its proximity to both the international organizations and embassies in The Hague. There are several international schools located in Wassenaar, including the [[American School of The Hague]] (ASH), and The [[International School Wassenaar]], part of [[Rijnlands Lyceum Foundation]].

Wassenaar has several parks and a network of bicycle paths. Trees, mainly [[beech]], [[oak]], and [[horse-chestnut (tree)|horse chestnut]], are widespread, giving the town a green character. The town centre supports a number of high-end shops, delicatessens and bakeries as well as cafes, bars, and restaurants. There are [[association football|Football]], [[Field Hockey]], [[Cricket]], [[Rugby football|Rugby]], and [[Tennis]] clubs. The theme park [[Duinrell]] and the race track [[Duindigt]], the only remaining grass race track in the Netherlands, are also here. The art [[Museum Voorlinden]] was opened by King Willem-Alexander in 2016.<ref>Nina Siegal, "[https://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/28/arts/design/wim-pijbes-museum-voorlinden.html Wim Pijbes Quits Post at Museum Voorlinden After Less Than 3 Months]", ''[[The New York Times]]'', 2016. Retrieved 27 January 2017.</ref>

Despite being a relatively small town, Wassenaar is well known in the Netherlands for its conspicuous wealth. Areas of the town are amongst the most affluent in the Netherlands, and residents have a reputation for being ''bekakt'' or posh. Wassenaar is home to some of the most expensive neighbourhoods in the nation. In 2018 the ''Konijnen laan'' had an average house price of around 2.5 million Euros, making it the most expensive street in the Netherlands.<ref name="auto"/> The Dutch artists Ross and Iba released a song entitled 'Wassenaar,' which poked fun at the wealth of the town.

Wassenaar has always enjoyed good relations with the neighbouring town of [[Voorschoten]], with which it has shared a history. The [[House of Wassenaer]], for example, historically resided in the [[Kasteel Duivenvoorde]] in Voorschoten. A merger into one municipality has been discussed.