Leusden

Leusden
Municipality
From left to right; Highrise building, Park Wildenburg, St. Jozefkerk, Kooikersgracht, Residential tower, Biezenkamp

Flag
Coat of arms
Highlighted position of Leusden in a municipal map of Utrecht
Location in Utrecht
Coordinates: 52°8′N 5°26′E / 52.133°N 5.433°E / 52.133; 5.433Coordinates: 52°8′N 5°26′E / 52.133°N 5.433°E / 52.133; 5.433
Country Netherlands
Province Utrecht
Government[1]
 • Body Municipal council
 • Mayor Gerolf Bouwmeester (D66)
Area[2]
 • Total 58.89 km2 (22.74 sq mi)
 • Land 58.63 km2 (22.64 sq mi)
 • Water 0.26 km2 (0.10 sq mi)
Elevation[3] 3 m (10 ft)
Population (August 2017)[4]
 • Total 29,762
 • Density 508/km2 (1,320/sq mi)
Demonym(s) Leusdenaar
Time zone UTC+1 (CET)
 • Summer (DST) UTC+2 (CEST)
Postcode 3830–3835
Area code 033
Website www.leusden.nl
Dutch Topographic map of Leusden, June 2015

Leusden (Dutch pronunciation: [ˈløːzdə(n)] ( listen)) is a municipality and a town in the Netherlands, in the province of Utrecht. It is located about 3 kilometres southeast of Amersfoort.

The western part of the municipality lies on the slopes of the Utrecht Hill Ridge and is largely covered by forest and heathlands. The eastern parts lie in the Gelderse Vallei and are mostly agricultural.

Population centres

Map of the municipality, with towns and villages.

The municipality of Leusden contains four villages:

There are also a number of hamlets in the municipality:[5] Asschat, Den Treek, De Ruif, Jannendorp, Musschendorp, Oud-Leusden (formerly named "Leusden"), and Snorrenhoef.

The town of Leusden

The place that is now called Leusden was first mentioned as Villa Lisiduna in a charter in 777. The exact location of that settlement, which is considered to have been a rather extensive farm complex with defenses, is unknown to us. It is possible that the old village of Oud-Leusden once was the location of Villa Lisiduna but excavations in the 1980s have not provided any evidence. However, the church tower of Oud-Leusden is one of the oldest towers in the Netherlands, dating back at least to the 11th century A.D. Close to Leusden is the site of the former monastery Heiligenberg, founded around the year 1000 by bishop Ansfridus of Utrecht, who died here in 1010.

In the 1970s, the agricultural villages of Leusbroek and Hamersveld grew together into a larger, mainly residential town. What once was Hamersveld is now called Leusden-Centrum, now commonly Leusden, and Leusbroek was to become Leusden-Zuid. In the original plans, Leusden was to grow into a town of around 46,000 inhabitants. After the initial expansion there was a growing resistance from the population, so some of the later phases of expansion have been abandoned.

Shopping Areas

Shopping centre Biezenkamp

In Leusden there are 3 shopping centres:

  • The Hamershof, this is the biggest mall with about 80 stores in the centre of Leusden. The oldest part opened in 1980 together with the Town Hall nearby the Hamershof.
  • The Biezenkamp, this is the second shopping centre in the centre of town, there are not more than 20 shops.
  • And the third shopping centre is the Zuidhoek in the new neighborhood the Tabaksteeg, there are just 5 shops located around the square.

Notable residents

  • Robby Valentine (b. 1968), singer and multi-instrumentalist, born in Leusden
  • Marieke Wijsman (b. 1975), former speed-skater, born in Leusden
  • Marike Jager (b. 1979), singer-songwriter, grew up in Leusden
  • Gerrit Achterberg (1905-1962), poet, died in Leusden
  • Arleen Auger (1939-1993), soprano, died in Leusden

References

  1. ↑ "Burgemeester Vermeulen" [Mayor Vermeulen] (in Dutch). Gemeente Leusden. Archived from the original on 13 June 2011. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
  2. ↑ "Kerncijfers wijken en buurten" [Key figures for neighbourhoods]. CBS Statline (in Dutch). CBS. 2 July 2013. Retrieved 12 March 2014.
  3. ↑ "Postcodetool for 3831NA". Actueel Hoogtebestand Nederland (in Dutch). Het Waterschapshuis. Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 4 April 2014.
  4. ↑ "Bevolkingsontwikkeling; regio per maand" [Population growth; regions per month]. CBS Statline (in Dutch). CBS. 27 October 2017. Retrieved 27 October 2017.
  5. ↑ ANWB, "Topografische atlas Nederland 1:50000", 2005. Cartography by the Topografische Dienst, Emmen.
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