The statistical area "Bilthoven", which also can include the surrounding countryside, has a population of around 17,560.

[1] The history of the town goes back to 20 August 1843, the day when the Utrecht-Amersfoort railway track began operating.

As a result of this rail connection with the city, and the fact that the land nearby was relatively cheap, the number of villas continued to increase rapidly.

The founding meetings of all three groups took place at the home of Kees and Betty Boeke.

[2] The experimental school De Werkplaats Kindergemeenschap,[3] founded by Kees Boeke, has been based in Bilthoven since 1926.