Editing Leerdam

{{for|the surname|Leerdam (surname)}}
{{use dmy dates|date=March 2022}}
{{Infobox settlement
<!-- See Template:Infobox settlement for additional fields and descriptions -->
<!-- Name and transliteration -->
| name                    = Leerdam
| settlement_type         = City and former municipality
<!-- Images, nickname, motto -->
| image_skyline           = Leerdam - Zuidwal.jpg
| image_alt               = 
| image_caption           = City walls and Glass Centre
| image_flag              = Leerdam flag.svg
| flag_size               = 100x67px
| flag_alt                = 
| image_shield            = Leerdam wapen.svg
| shield_size             = 100x80px
| shield_alt              = 
<!-- Maps, coordinates -->
| image_map               = Map - NL - Municipality code 0545 (2009).svg
| map_alt                 = Highlighted position of Leerdam in a municipal map of South Holland
| map_caption             = Location of the former municipality in South Holland
| coordinates             = {{coord|51|54|N|5|6|E|region:NL|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes   = 
| subdivision_type        = [[List of sovereign states|Country]]
| subdivision_name        = [[Netherlands]]
| subdivision_type1       = [[Provinces of the Netherlands|Province]]
| subdivision_name1       = [[Utrecht]]
| subdivision_type2       = Municipality
| subdivision_name2       = [[Vijfheerenlanden]]
| extinct_title           = Merged
| extinct_date            = 2019
<!-- Geographic information -->
| unit_pref               = Metric
<!-- ALL fields with measurements have automatic unit conversion -->
<!-- for references: use <ref> tags -->
<!-- Population, demographics -->
| population_footnotes    = <ref>{{cite web |title=Leerdam |url=https://www.vijfheerenlanden.nl/Recreatie/Overzichtspagina_Recreatie/Dorpen_kernen_en_wijken/Leerdam |website=Vijfheerenlanden |accessdate=16 January 2019}}</ref>
| population_total        = 21,000
| population_demonym      = Leerdammer
<!-- Other information -->
| timezone1               = [[Central European Time|CET]]
| utc_offset1             = +1
| timezone1_DST           = [[Central European Summer Time|CEST]]
| utc_offset1_DST         = +2
| postal_code_type        = [[Postal codes in the Netherlands|Postcode]]
| postal_code             = 4140–4145, 4163
| area_code_type          = [[Telephone numbers in the Netherlands|Area code]]
| area_code               = 0345
| website                 =
| footnotes               =
}}
[[Image:Gem-Leerdam-OpenTopo.jpg|upright=1.35|thumb|Dutch topographic map of the former municipality of Leerdam, June 2015]]
'''Leerdam''' ({{IPA|nl|leːrˈdɑm|lang|Nl-Leerdam.ogg}}) is a city and former municipality in the western [[Netherlands]], in the province of [[Utrecht (province)|Utrecht]].
The municipality was merged with the municipalities of [[Vianen]] and [[Zederik]] on 1 January 2019. The name of the new municipality is [[Vijfheerenlanden]] which is a part of the province [[Utrecht (province)|Utrecht]]. The former municipality Leerdam was a part of the province [[South Holland]].

The south border of the town is formed by the river [[Linge]]. The name originates from a [[dam]] in the river Lede which was a branch from the river Linge towards [[Meerkerk]]. Leerdam is situated almost exactly in the middle of the three highways [[A2 motorway (Netherlands)|A2]], [[A15 motorway (Netherlands)|A15]], and [[A27 motorway (Netherlands)|A27]].

==History==
Leerdam received [[City rights in the Netherlands|city 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 with [[Acquoy]], became property of the [[House of Orange]] and part of the [[County of Holland]].

The rich history of Leerdam can be found in well-kept historic buildings such as the ''Grote Kerk'' (Great Church), the ''[[Hofje van Mevrouw van Aerden]]'' (Mrs. Aerden Almshouses, now a museum), the remaining and restored city walls on the ''Zuidwal'' and the ''Oude Raadhuis'' (Old City Hall).

In South Africa a fort was built by the [[Dutch East India Company]] between 1666 and 1679 in the coastal city [[Cape Town]]. It is called [[Castle of Good Hope]]. The corners of this fort received names in honour of [[William III of England|William of Orange-Nassau]] and because Leerdam was part of the [[House of Orange-Nassau]] one of those corners were named Leerdam.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://castleofgoodhope.co.za/history/ |title=Castell de Goede Hoop History|accessdate=21 December 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sahistory.org.za/dated-event/four-corner-stones-castle-kasteel-de-goede-hoop-cape-are-laid |title=The four corner stones of the castle (Kasteel de Goede Hoop) at the Cape are laid|accessdate=21 December 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://theculturetrip.com/africa/south-africa/articles/a-brief-history-of-the-castle-of-good-hope-cape-town/ |title= A Brief History Of The Castle Of Good Hope, Cape Town |author= Collison, L|date= 9 December 2016 |accessdate=21 December 2018}}</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery>
Image:Leerdam 1866.png|Leerdam in 1866.
File:Historische kaart Vijfheerenlanden (16e eeuw).jpg|Historical map of the [[Vijfheerenlanden]]
File:Frans Hals 072.jpg|''[[Two laughing boys with mug of beer]]'' by Frans Hals; Hofje van Mevrouw van Aerden, Leerdam
</gallery>

==Glass industry==
Since the 18th century, the town's culture has been strongly influenced by the [[glass]] industry and the [[timber industry]]. The glass currently manufactured in Leerdam is internationally known as [[Royal Leerdam]] or (particularly in respect of designer glass and [[glass art]]) as [[Royal Leerdam Crystal]]. This, with the [[National Glass Museum]], the [[Glass Centre]] (with its [[glassblowing]] and demonstration activities), and several art galleries, make Leerdam a major tourist attraction in the Netherlands.

[[Glassblower]]s work in the Glass Centre <ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nationaalglasmuseum.nl/glasblazerij/ |title=Glasblazerij |publisher=Nationaal Glasmuseum |accessdate=16 January 2019}}</ref> in Leerdam, which is open to the public.

== Cheese ==

The cheese [[Leerdammer]] is named after Leerdam, but is actually producted in [[Schoonrewoerd]], located in the same municipality.

==Public transport==
The [[Leerdam railway station]] is situated on the [[Elst–Dordrecht railway]].

==Born in Leerdam==
* [[Cornelis Pieter van den Hoek]] (1921–2015), resistance fighter during World War II
* [[Jan van Houwelingen (politician)|Jan van Houwelingen]] (1939–2013), politician
* [[Manon van Rooijen]] (born 1982), freestyle swimmer

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links==
{{Commons category}}
*[http://www.hofjevanaerden.nl/ Museum Hofje van Mevrouw Van Aerden]

{{Authority control}}
{{Dutch municipality Vijfheerenlanden}}

[[Category:Cities in the Netherlands]]
[[Category:Municipalities of the Netherlands disestablished in 2019]]
[[Category:Former municipalities of South Holland]]
[[Category:Populated places in Utrecht (province)]]
[[Category:Vijfheerenlanden]]