Woerden is a city and municipality in the west of the Dutch province of Utrecht, in the east of the Green Heart. The municipality consists of the wars Woerden, Harmelen, Kamerik and Zegveld. The municipality of Woerden has 51,622 inhabitants (30 April 2017, source: CBS) and the city of Woerden has 36,310 inhabitants (1 January 2014).

Woerden dates back to Roman times, when the Castellum Laurium was founded at this place around 41 AD, at a natural height. This castellum was a campsite along the northern border of the Roman Empire, formed by the Rhine, nowadays the Old Rhine. Laurium has been used to around 270. A number of Roman ships in Woerden have been found, and a replica has been used since 2009 for round trips.

Between 719 and 722, Bonifacius stayed in Woerden for preaching. Around the year 795, Woerden became Wyrdaoemd.

Throughout the Middle Ages, Woerden began to be strengthened from the 12th century (a castle, ramparts, canals). Around 1160, Godfried van Reenen, the bishop of Utrecht, made a fortification at the settlement of the Old Rhine (sometimes called Worthene). The purpose of the reinforcement was to counteract the expansion of the Count of Holland. The city had a wooden church, which burned in 1202.