NIEUW-LEKKERLAND

'' (population: 9,539 in 2004) is a town and municipality in the western Netherlands, in the province of South Holland. Its situated on the southern shores of the Lek River, in the north-western part of the Alblasserwaard. The municipality covers an area of 12.77 km² (of which 2.37 km² is covered by water).
The municipality includes the population centres of Nieuw-Lekkerland (divided into the two neighbourhoods Dorpslaan and Middelweg) and Kinderdijk.
The town's name evolved slightly over time: in 1280 Leckerlant, in 1331 Niewe Leckerland, and in 1903 Nieuw Lekkerland. It means "land of or near the river Lek" with the addition of "''nieuw''" ("new") to distinguish it from Old Lekkerland (now Lekkerkerk) across the river.

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History

External links

History

The name Nieue-Leckelant appears for the first time around 1325 and distinguishes it from Oudt-Leckelant (now Lekkerkerk). The most notable building used to be Castle Schoonenburg. Because of its elevated location on a mount, it served as a refuge for the people during floods before the reclamation of the Alblasserwaard. After 1456, the castle was abandoned and became a ruin. Its remains were thereafter probably used to rebuild a church tower.
Its economy was based on agriculture, cattle raising, and fishing. In the 19th century ship building and industry developed, resulting in an increasing population: from 770 in 1820, 1153 in 1840, 2000 in 1867, to 9400 in 2004.
Nieuw-Lekkerland is one of the few remaining municipalities in the Alblasserwaard that have never merged with any other municipality.

External links

★ http://www.plattegronden.nl/gemeentenieuwlekkerland/