leek: see onion.

Hardy, vigorous, biennial plant (Allium porrum) of the lily family, native to the eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East. It has a mild, sweet, onionlike flavour. In Europe it is widely used in soups and stews and is cooked whole as a vegetable. It became the national emblem of Wales following an ancient victory by an army of Welshmen who wore leeks as a distinguishing sign. The long, narrow leaves and nearly cylindrical bulb of the first season are replaced in the second season by a tall solid stalk bearing leaves and a large umbel with many flowers.

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Leek is a municipality and a town in the Groningen province in the northeastern Netherlands, bordering on the Drenthe and Fryslân provinces.

The town is approximately 20 km west of Groningen (city) on the A7 (E22) highway.

The town grew around a fortification that was constructed here during the Eighty Years' War with Spain. The name 'Leek' was derived from a brook, the "Leke". The town is sometimes also called "The Leek". In Dutch the people from Leek are called "Leeksters".

Every year around pentecost there is a fair, drawing thousands of people from the area. The main attraction in the town is the "Nienoord" estate with the National Carriage Museum and a recreation park with model railways in several scales, including "live steam".

Near the town is a shallow lake, called "Het Leekstermeer", with recreational facilities. Actually, the lake is in another municipality and in another province.

Population centres

Enumatil, Leek, Lettelbert, Midwolde, Oostwold, Tolbert and Zevenhuizen.

External links

• Official Website
• Carriage museum