Leiderdorp

The history of Leiderdorp begins in Roman times. Excavations have shown that in the beginning of the third century AD there was a castellum near Roomburg, which was probably inhabited by the soldiers of the thirtieth Roman legion, which was then stationed in these regions.

First occupation

The land around Leiderdorp was soggy in the first centuries of our era and the means of subsistence were limited. The banks had not yet been excavated for the brickyard. When large parts of the western Netherlands were flooded by rising sea levels, these banks probably offered a dry place to live. Soil finds prove that the area where Leiderdorp is now located was inhabited in Carolingian times (from the eighth century). In 1952, the remains of simple dikes were found. Unearthed post holes and weaving weights show that there were huts and that the population was engaged in animal husbandry and perhaps also textile industry.

According to written sources, in the 10th century there were farms in the so-called first, second and third Leithon. These three districts together formed Holtlant, which included the Waardeiland, the area between the Mare and the Zijl and that north of the Oude Rijn. The first counts of Holland are said to have lived in Holtlant. The name of the province of Holland is derived from the old Holtlant.

Middle Ages

Both Leiden and Leiderdorp derive their name from the Leithons. The Leiderdorp territory originally extended to the castle in the center of Leiden. From 1200 onwards, Leiden regularly took over territory from surrounding artisanal lordships for urban expansion. Leiderdorp also had to cede land to the growing city.

In the course of the Middle Ages, several castles were built in Leiderdorp, such as the Huis ter Does, Berendrecht, Ter Mey, Stenevelt, Te Waarde and Huis Ter Zijl/Zijlhof, all of which have disappeared. Since the fourteenth century, the Augustinianmonastery Engelendael has stood in Leiderdorp. The monastery owned a lot of land and played an important role in Leiderdorp.

Sixteenth and seventeenth centuries

During the first Spanish siege of Leiden, which ended in March 1574, the Spanish army commander Valdez established his headquarters in the old church of Leiderdorp. He had defenses built around the village center, of which nothing can be found. When the Prince of Orange had the dikes crossed, the Spaniards withdrew permanently.

After the revolt against the Spaniards, the Engelendael monastery was given to Jonkheer Arend van Dorp, as compensation for a loan to the destitute Prince of Orange. Van Dorp had the monastery demolished and the foundations excavated, leaving no remains of it. The proceeds of the monastic land were used by the States of Holland to pay Protestant church servants. The newly founded Leiden University, where the pastors were trained, also received money.

At the time of the Spanish siege, the war invalid Count Philip was the Ligneambachtsheer of Leiderdorp. A Leiden delegation travelled to Hainaut and persuaded him to sell his Leiden real estate. Then, in April 1583, the city approached Stadtholder William of Orange to receive the fief of Leiderdorp, but he forwarded the request to the States of Holland. It became a lingering affair and great gifts were needed to persuade Pieter van der Does to give up his rear admiralship, and (through his wife) to Johan van Oldenbarnevelt, to get the business going in the States.

In August 1597, the city of Leiden was given the traditional rights of Leiderdorp, and on 24 September 1590 the Leiderdorp officials took a new oath in front of two Leiden mayors. Until the French era, rear admirals and aldermen, craftsmen, secretary and messenger were appointed by Leiden.

After 1795

After the proclamation of the Batavian Republic in January 1795, the administrative organization soon changed. Municipalities were established throughout the Netherlands, the forerunners of the modern municipalities. Leiderdorp also became an independent municipality in that period. Not much changed in the socio-economic field; Leiderdorp remained a strongly agricultural municipality, with ribbon buildings along the Rhine. Many wealthy Leiden residents had a country estate built along the Rhine during this time.

In the nineteenth century Leiderdorp had just over a thousand inhabitants. The village had some industry of significance: there were three large brick kilns and many potters. On the Zijl, the company Boot-Leiderdorp operated the shipyard De Hoop. Among other things, the Alhambra Flottante was built here, a ship that sailed through the Netherlands in the early days of silent film to amaze the audience with moving pictures.

In 1884 the Reformed separated from the Reformed, which caused great turmoil in Leiderdorp. Soldiers were stationed there for eight weeks to prevent a civil war. The Reformed initially went to church in a school after the secession; in 1892 they moved into the church next to the current A4. In 1989 this church building was taken into use by the Reformed Church.

Twentieth century to present

Even before the Second World War, planned public housing took place in Leiderdorp. For example, in 1914-1915 the so-called 'old village' was built, including the Van Leeuwenpark, which was designed by the architects and Oud. After the war, the village really started to grow. The industry developed well, for example there was a rope factory where, among other things, floor coverings were produced.

Between 1939 and 1958, the A4 motorway was built. The Leiderdorpsebrug was completed in 1958. The opening of the road section through Leiderdorp was in 1958. For a long time, the highway cut Leiderdorp in two parts. The area between the A4 and the Doeskwartier and Patrimoniumpark was still vacant. With the construction of the Oranjewijk, Doeskwartier and Patrimoniumpark were connected to the Oude Dorp.

The connection between the Oude Dorp and another old location, the Zijlkwartier, was realized in the 1960s with the Ouderzorg district. The congregation grew strongly during this time

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