leeshoek

Leeshoek is a placename used for several small settlements and neighborhoods in Dutch-speaking regions. The name is part of a common pattern in Dutch toponymy, combining elements that describe a location at the edge of a field or at a road junction. The precise etymology and the first use of the name vary by site, but the element hoek typically signals a corner or angle, while lees can reflect a land feature or older vernacular usage.

Geography and population: Leeshoek locations are typically rural or semi-rural, with low population densities. They may lie along a country road, near agricultural fields, or as a small cluster of farms and houses within a municipality. Population figures, when available, are usually in the tens to a few hundred residents and can change with municipal reorganization.

History: Records of Leeshoek appear in archives from the early modern period onward. In many cases the name survives in parish or cadastral documents and reflects historical land-use patterns rather than a distinct urban identity.

Notable features: Because Leeshoek refers to small settlements, features of interest are local rather than regional. Typical points might include a farmstead, a small chapel, or a crossroads; some Leeshoeken are primarily residential today.

See also: Dutch place names; Toponymy in the Netherlands.