Editing Leiderdorp (section)

== History ==
Excavations have shown that as early as during the [[Iron Age Europe|Iron Age]] in the area of current day Leiderdorp hunters and fishers roamed around and lived on the dry places around the river.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.leiderdorpsmuseum.nl/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Geschiedenis-van-Leiderdorp-pdf.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190426055035/http://www.leiderdorpsmuseum.nl/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Geschiedenis-van-Leiderdorp-pdf.pdf |archive-date=2019-04-26 |url-status=live|title=Geschiedenis van Leiderdorp in vogelvlucht|date=November 2018|website=Leiderdorps Museum}}</ref>

=== Roman Period ===
[[Rhine|The Rhine]], which passes through Leiderdorp, functioned as the [[Limes (Roman Empire)|Northern border]] of the [[Roman Empire]]. Close to Leiderdorp, the Romans built a fort, [[Matilo]]. Around the fall of the Western Roman Empire the Romans retreated from the area.<ref name=":0" />

=== Middle Ages ===
During the middle ages, the first permanent settlement appeared. The Rhine served as a connection between the sea and the hinterland, and there is evidence of trade taking place. During the [[late Middle Ages]] three castles were built in Leiderdorp, Huis ter Zijl (1260), Huis ter Does (around 1300) and Huis Berendrecht (around 1420).

In [[1396]] the Augustinian monastery Engelendael was founded. The monks copied books, cared for the sick and worked the fields. The monastery was abandoned in [[1574]], but its legacy is still present as the [[arterial road]] of Leiderdorp is called Engelendaal.

=== Eighty Years' War ===
In 1492 the first bridge crossing the Rhine was built. In 1514 Leiderdorps population had grown to 500. During the [[Siege of Leiden]] Leiderdorp was the headquarters of the Spanish General [[Francisco de Valdez]], who ultimately failed to capture the city. In 1620 the [[Protestantism|Protestant]] Dorpskerk (town church) is constructed. The Dorpskerk celebrated its 400th anniversary in 2020 with a series of concerts and exhibitions.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dorpskerk400.nl/|title=Dorpskerk 400 Jaar|date=6 February 2020|website=dorpskerk400}}</ref>

=== 1700-1940 ===
From 1597 till 1795 Leiden had administrative rights over Leiderdorp, which led to the town becoming even more dependent on the larger city.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://geschiedenisvanzuidholland.nl/locatie/geschiedenis-van-leiderdorp|title=Geschiedenis van Leiderdorp}}</ref> In 1795 Leiderdorp decreases in size as the neighbouring [[Leiden]] expands. A rope factory was constructed in 1806, and in 1862 the first school was established on the Hoofdstraat (main street). A shipyard was constructed in 1877, and in 1915 social housing designed by famous Dutch architect [[Willem Marinus Dudok]] was erected.

=== Second World War ===
During the Second World war a bunker was constructed in the neighbouring fields, and a pen factory and community centre were destroyed to make way for it. The spires of one of the churches was used as a sniper's nest.