Leerdammer L'Original cheese slices

Leerdammer is a world-renowned semi-hard Dutch cheese brand famously known for its distinctive nutty flavor and large holes, similar to Emmental but with the creaminess of Gouda. The brand originated in the town of Schoonrewoerd in the Netherlands in 1974, through the collaboration of Cees Bouter and Bastiaan Baars. Because of its unique production method, it is often classified as a specialty cheese category of its own.

Manufactured primarily in the Netherlands, Leerdammer has seen several shifts in corporate ownership over the decades. Originally a product of the Baars family company, it was later acquired by the French cheese giant Groupe Bel. In 2021, a significant trade occurred where the Lactalis Group acquired the Leerdammer brand from Bel in exchange for Bel's stake in Sicarom. Today, Leerdammer is a core brand under Lactalis, the world’s largest dairy products corporation, ensuring its global distribution and availability across European and international markets.