An extended broad spectrum of papers presented to Leendert Louwe Kooijmans

In 2003, at the age of 63, Leendert ended his administrative duties after being a dean of the Faculty of Archaeology for 20 years, a Faculty he created and let flourish. He ceased administration and education, but carried on his research on the neolithisation of north-western Europe. The large National Science Foundation grant that he obtained in 2003 for his project From Hardinxveld to Noordhoorn, from forager to farmer was a great reward for his work on the subject. His knowledge and innovative views made him a respected teacher and colleague who still is one of the leading international figures in the field. This immediately became clear when we send out a call for papers in May 2007. Eventually twenty-three colleagues were able to contribute to this liber amicorum and another twenty to the conference that has been organised in advance of the valedictory address on June 13, 2008