Leerdam | |
|---|---|
City and former municipality | |
 City walls and Glass Centre | |
 Flag  Coat of arms | |
.svg) Location of the former municipality in South Holland | |
| Coordinates:51°54′N5°6′E / 51.900°N 5.100°E /51.900; 5.100 | |
| Country | Netherlands |
| Province | Utrecht |
| Municipality | Vijfheerenlanden |
| Merged | 2019 |
| Population | |
• Total | 21,000 |
| Demonym | Leerdammer |
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) |
| Postcode | 4140–4145, 4163 |
| Area code | 0345 |
Leerdam (Dutch:[leːrˈdɑm]ⓘ) is a city and former municipality in the westernNetherlands, in the province ofUtrecht.The municipality was merged with the municipalities ofVianen andZederik on 1 January 2019. The name of the new municipality isVijfheerenlanden which is a part of the provinceUtrecht. The former municipality Leerdam was a part of the provinceSouth Holland.
The south border of the town is formed by the riverLinge. The name originates from adam in the river Lede which was a branch from the river Linge towardsMeerkerk. Leerdam is situated almost exactly in the middle of the three highwaysA2,A15, andA27.
Leerdam receivedcity rights in 1407. The small river Linge, bordered by beautiful water meadows, defines the atmosphere and tone of the landscape. Several centuries ago Leerdam formed a part of the Vijfheerenlanden domain, before it was raised to the level of County in 1498.
In 1551, Leerdam, together withAcquoy, became property of theHouse of Orange and part of theCounty of Holland.
The rich history of Leerdam can be found in well-kept historic buildings such as theGrote Kerk (Great Church), theHofje van Mevrouw van Aerden (Mrs. Aerden Almshouses, now a museum), the remaining and restored city walls on theZuidwal and theOude Raadhuis (Old City Hall).
In South Africa a fort was built by theDutch East India Company between 1666 and 1679 in the coastal cityCape Town. It is calledCastle of Good Hope. The corners of this fort received names in honour ofWilliam of Orange-Nassau and because Leerdam was part of theHouse of Orange-Nassau one of those corners were named Leerdam.[2][3][4]
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Since the 18th century, the town's culture has been strongly influenced by theglass industry and thetimber industry. The glass currently manufactured in Leerdam is internationally known asRoyal Leerdam or (particularly in respect of designer glass andglass art) asRoyal Leerdam Crystal. This, with theNational Glass Museum, theGlass Centre (with itsglassblowing and demonstration activities), and several art galleries, make Leerdam a major tourist attraction in the Netherlands.
Glassblowers work in the Glass Centre[5] in Leerdam, which is open to the public.
The cheeseLeerdammer is named after Leerdam, but is actually producted inSchoonrewoerd, located in the same municipality.
TheLeerdam railway station is situated on theElst–Dordrecht railway.
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