or Leyden
Commune (pop., 1999: 117,389), western Netherlands.
First mentioned in 922 as a possession of Utrecht diocese, it was governed by the court of Holland until 1420. It became a printing centre after the Elzevir family set up their press there с 1581. The University of Leiden was founded in 1575, and the town became a centre of theology, science, and art. Leiden was the birthplace of painters Jan van Goyen , and the {{link=Pilgrims">Pilgrims resided there for 11 years before they sailed to America in 1620.