Nieuw-Lekkerland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nieuw-Lekkerland
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Town and former municipality
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| Country | Netherlands | ||
| Province | South Holland | ||
| Municipality | Molenlanden | ||
| Area
(2006)
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| • Total | 12.77 km2 (4.93 sq mi) | ||
| • Land | 10.40 km2 (4.02 sq mi) | ||
| • Water | 2.38 km2 (0.92 sq mi) | ||
| Population
(1 January 2007)
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| • Total | 9,436 | ||
| • Density | 907/km2 (2,350/sq mi) | ||
| Source: CBS, Statline. | |||
| Time zone | UTC+1 (CET) | ||
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+2 (CEST) | ||
Nieuw-Lekkerland is a town located in the western part of the Netherlands. You can find it in the province of South Holland. This town sits right on the southern bank of the Lek River. It is also in the northwest area of the Alblasserwaard, which is a polder region.
The name of the town has changed a bit over many years. Around 1280, it was called Leckerlant. Later, in 1331, it became Niewe Leckerland. By 1903, it was known as Nieuw Lekkerland. The name means "land near the Lek River." The word "nieuw" means "new" in Dutch. This helped people tell it apart from Old Lekkerland, which is now Lekkerkerk, located across the river.
A Glimpse into History
The name Nieue-Leckelant first appeared around the year 1325. A very important building in the past was Castle Schoonenburg. This castle was built on a small hill. Because it was high up, it offered a safe place for people during floods. This was before the land in the Alblasserwaard was drained and made safe.
After 1456, the castle was no longer used and became a ruin. People likely used its old stones to help build a church tower. Today, only the small hill where the castle stood can still be seen. The Reformed Church that stands today was built in 1848.
Nieuw-Lekkerland's early economy focused on farming, raising animals, and fishing. In the 1800s, new industries like shipbuilding started to grow. This led to more people moving to the town. For example, in 1820, about 770 people lived there. By 1840, the population grew to 1,153. It reached 2,000 by 1867 and about 9,400 by 2004.
In 2013, Nieuw-Lekkerland joined with other areas to form a new larger municipality called Molenwaard. Then, in 2019, Molenwaard merged again to become part of the even larger municipality of Molenlanden.
Fun Places to Visit
One of the most famous attractions near Nieuw-Lekkerland is the group of windmills at Kinderdijk. These historic windmills are very close by and are a popular sight.
In Nieuw-Lekkerland itself, there is a special building on the Lek dike. It was built in 1885 and designed by Aart den Boer. This building was originally a retirement home. It was ordered by Leendert Smit Fopzoon and his wife Neeltje Smit. The building has a unique style and could house about 15 people and a landlord. The kitchen was in the basement, a common room was on the ground floor, and the manager's room was on the second floor.
Gallery
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Nieuw-Lekkerland in 1867
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De Hoge Molen in Nieuw-Lekkerland
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Kleine of Lage Molen in Nieuw-Lekkerland
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House in Nieuw-Lekkerland, built in 1643
