It consisted of the communities Bilderdam, Hoogmade, Leimuiden, Rijnsaterwoude, and Woubrugge, all located around the above-mentioned lakes.

Inhabitants of Jacobswoude depend on Alphen aan den Rijn, Leiden and Amsterdam for facilities not offered in the smaller villages.

On 1 January 2009, Jacobswoude merged with Alkemade and formed the new municipality of Kaag en Braassem.

The first mention of this village is from 823, when it is thought that Lord Jacob van den Woude was granted the area as a fiefdom from Louis the Pious.

The peat surrounding the village was excavated, making Jacobswoude an island by the middle of the 18th century.