Leerdammer®

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Choose your Cheese

The original taste. Silver award winner at the 2005 World
Cheese Awards.

Leerdammer® Lightlife Wedge

Leerdammer® Lightlife Wedge

Big on taste, lower in calories.

Nutritional Information (Per 100g)

Energy value 1212kj (290kcal)
Protein 32.5g
Carbohydrate 0g
Fat 17.5g
Calcium 1070mg
Suitable for Vegetarians Yes

Ingredients

  • Milk
  • salt (1.7%)
  • bacterial culture
  • vegetarian rennet

In the rind

  • Colour E160b
  • Preservative: E235

Leerdammer® Lightlife Slices

Leerdammer® Lightlife Slices

The convenient and delicious lower fat alternative.

Nutritional Information (Per 100g)

Energy value 1149kj (275kcal)
Protein 31.0g
Carbohydrate < 0.1g
Fat 16.5g
Calcium 1010mg
Suitable for Vegetarians Yes

Ingredients

  • Milk
  • salt (1.6%)
  • bacterial culture
  • vegetarian rennet

Leerdammer® Original Wedge

Leerdammer® Original Wedge

A nice chunky wedge of delicious Dutch cheese.

Nutritional Information (Per 100g)

Energy value 1506kj (362kcal)
Protein 28.0g
Carbohydrate < 0.1g
Fat 27.5g
Calcium 910mg
Suitable for vegetarians Yes

Ingredients

  • Milk
  • salt (1.4%)
  • bacterial culture
  • vegetarian rennet

Leerdammer® Original Slices

Leerdammer® Original Slices

Ultra-convenient portions. Perfect for sandwiches, or just for nibbling.

Nutritional Information (Per 100g)

Energy value 1488kj (358kcal)
Protein 27.0g
Carbohydrate < 0.1g
Fat 28.0g
Calcium 860mg
Suitable for Vegetarians Yes

Ingredients

  • Milk
  • salt (1.5%)
  • bacterial culture
  • vegetarian rennet

Leerdammer® Deli Wheel

Leerdammer® Deli Wheel

Available from the deli counter in a cut-to-size format.

Nutritional Information (Per 100g)

Energy value 1488kj (358kcal)
Protein 27.0g
Carbohydrate < 0.1g
Fat 28.0g
Calcium 860mg
Suitable for Vegetarians Yes

Ingredients

  • Milk
  • salt (1.4%)
  • bacterial culture
  • vegetarian rennet
Know your Leerdammer®

Leerdammer®'s characteristic holes are caused when carbon dioxide bubbles form during the fermentation process. Varying the temperature, acidity level and fermentation time alters the size of the holes.

Leerdammer® Quality Control

Because of its holes and sweet, nutty flavour, Leerdammer® is often compared with Emmental. However, Leerdammer® is made with pasteurised milk, whereas most Emmental comes from raw milk. Leerdammer® is generally suppler in texture and less sharp in taste than its Swiss cousin.

You can't rush quality. Leerdammer® is matured for between 3 and 12 months and develops its characteristic yellow rind during the maturation process.

The great taste of Leerdammer® was recently officially recognised, when it won Silver Awards for Leedammer Lightlife and Leerdammer® Original Deli Wheel at the 2005 World Cheese Awards.

Find out more: 1 2 3 4

Cheese with Character

Leerdammer® is a hard continental cheese with an irresistibly sweet, nutty taste and a lot of holes. One of the best-selling cheeses in Europe, it's a great everyday staple with an extraordinary taste.

Whether you're looking for a snack or the basis of a tasty family meal - or simply fancy a break from the usual cheddar - make Leerdammer® your cheese of choice.

Making great cheese takes time

In 1914, a man called Cees Boterkooper bought a small dairy in Schoonrewoerd, a rural town near Leerdam in Holland.

Fifty-six years later, he bumped into Bastiaan Baars, who ran a small cheese shop in a nearby village. Perhaps unsurprisingly, they started talking about cheese.

Before long, Baars and Boterkooper were attempting to create a whole new kind of cheese, one that would rival Gouda and Edam.

You don't rush things in Schoonrewoerd, so this took a while. Finally, in 1977, Leerdammer® was launched. Word soon spread about how good it was; today it's one of Europe's most popular cheeses.

Go on, give into Leerdammer®

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Recipe Ideas

Eat it hot; eat it cold - Leerdammer's nothing if not versatile.

The Ultimate Cheese and Ham Toastie

The Ultimate Cheese and Ham Toastie

Treat your tastebuds with our delicious version of this all-time classic.
Go to recipe »

Leerdammer® "Open" Sandwich

Leerdammer® "Open" Sandwich

Quick and easy to make, this is an ideal light bite for the summer.
Go to recipe »

» See more recipes

The Healthier Choice
Leerdammer® Wedge

Just 30g of Leerdammer® contains over a third of your typical daily calcium requirements…

Leerdammer® is a healthier choice in other ways too. Compared to typical Gouda, for example, it's lower in fat and salt.

Leerdammer® Lightlife, has an even lower fat content - 50% less than your average cheddar.

Read More: 1 2 3

Frequently asked questions

What type of cheese is Leerdammer® ?

Leerdammer® is a brand of Maasdam cheese. It is a unique recipe, crossing traditional Gouda and Emmental, resulting in a cheese with holes, a mild taste and a soft texture.

Where does the name Leerdammer® come from?

Leerdammer® means 'from Leerdam' which is where the cheese is produced. Leerdam is a typical small Dutch town near Utrecht.

Is Leerdammer® cheese safe to eat during pregnancy?

Yes Leerdammer® is made from pasteurised milk and is therefore suitable for consumption during pregnancy.

Is Leerdammer® suitable for vegetarians?

Yes, all formats of Leerdammer® cheese are suitable for vegetarians.

Can you cook with Leerdammer®?

Yes. Leerdammer® is great for pizzas, gratins, cheese sauces, fondues or simply grated over hot meals. Taste test research has showed that Leerdammer® is an ideal cheese for cooking.

Why are there holes in Leerdammer®?

This is a result of the ripening process, in which natural bacteria are stimulated by temperature. Due to this process, you can really say that the cheese tastes better around the holes.

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