Leiden calls itself the ‘city of discoveries’, a reference to the centuries of scientific achievements that have taken place in this southern Dutch city of 120,000 inhabitants; Some of the best thinkers in the Netherlands and the world have walked these streets, from the Nobel laureate H. Kamerlingh Onnes to Albert Einstein. Also for visitors, it is a place with much to discover: some 20 museums, several historical churches, a variety of world cuisines and more can keep tourists busy for days on end.
How to get to Leiden:
- By train: between 6 am and 10 pm, four direct trains per hour connect Amsterdam Central Station with Leiden Central Station; Travel time is about 30 minutes. For information on timetables and fares, see the Dutch Railways (NS) website.
What to see and do in Leiden:
- De Burcht – Enjoy a panoramic view of Leiden’s historic skyline from De Burcht, a hilltop fortress where the two branches of the Rhine meet in the center of the city. In architectural terms, De Burcht is a shell castle, a stone fortification that surrounds an artificial hill (or motte), like that of Windsor Castle in the United Kingdom. Posters posted on the inner perimeter of the 12th century fortress mark Leiden’s essential landmarks.
- Churches of Leiden: Leiden has more than its fair share of wonderful churches, the main of which are the late Gothic Pieterskerk and the Hooglandse Kerk. Dedicated to Saint Peter, the patron saint of Leiden, whose keys adorn the city’s coat of arms, the 16th-century Pieterskerk was the church of Separatist pastor John Robinson, 35 of whose followers set sail aboard the Mayflower to found the Plymouth colony. in 1620. The Hooglandse Kerk is a 15th century cruciform basilica dedicated to Saint Pancras.
- Leiden Windmills – Two notable windmills are located in the center of Leiden. Molen de Valk is both an active flour mill and a windmill museum; Visitors can find flour and other local products ground by the wind in the museum shop. Molen de Put (pictured) , also open to the public (Saturday, 11 am – 5 pm), was a favorite of Rembrandt van Rijn. Rembrandt’s birthplace is a few meters south on Weddesteeg; While his childhood home has since been demolished, there is a plaza in his honor (Rembrandtplaats) across the narrow alley.
Leiden Museums:
Leiden’s nearly 20 museums, most of them located in the compact historic center, cover a wide variety of topics, from arts and culture to history, nature and science.
- Art and Culture Museums: While the Lakenhal Museum, Leiden’s municipal museum, draws visitors in search of old masters and other classical Dutch art, its architecture and interior are attractions in themselves – this room from the former maker of Fabrics is littered with relics of the mercantile activity that took place here at its peak in the 17th century. Just a few blocks away, the Rijksmuseum voor Volkenkunde explores world cultures in its immensely popular permanent collection and temporary exhibits, which are combined with themed activities for adults and children alike; his 2010-2011 exhibition on New Zealand’s Maori culture was a huge success drawing steady crowds. The smaller SieboldHuis, a personal favorite of mine, narrows its focus to a single rich culture: this former residence of Philipp Franz von Siebold, physician and accomplished Japanophile, holds the late scholar’s personal collection of Japanese artifacts, from ceremonial implements to the tea up maps and prints.
- History Museums: Somewhere between art and history is the Rijksmuseum van Oudheden, the national museum of antiquities, whose collection rivals that of the Allard Pierson Museum in Amsterdam. The museum’s fast-paced tour of ancient cultures begins with the Ancient Nubian Temple of Taffeh on the first floor, and even includes a bit of Dutch prehistory. For a dose of American colonial history, head to the Leiden American Pilgrim Museum; Set in a mid-14th century house, the oldest in Leiden, its period interior resembles the homes the Pilgrims left aboard the Mayflower for a new life in the Plymouth Colony.
- Nature and Science Museums: Children from all over the country come to see Naturalis, Leiden’s natural history museum; However, as an adult, I can attest that it is just as fun for us. Hundreds of taxidermied animals form the basis of the museum’s permanent exhibition, but it is not as morbid as it sounds; rather, the museum is filled with the sounds of ooh’s and aah’s as visitors admire animals from the ordinary to the exotic, “captured” in the most realistic poses. To experience nature, the charming Hortus Botanicus has a variety of trees, plants and flowers on its premises behind the University of Leiden. The university itself has been associated with countless scientific discoveries since its inception in 1575; named after the 16th century Leiden scientist Herman Boerhaave, it tells the history of science and medicine in the Netherlands since 1600.
Where to eat and drink in Leiden:
Like a characteristic student town, Leiden has a wide variety of restaurants, both in terms of price and cuisine, and a host of cafes where students can sit for hours with their textbooks (or laptops) and a laptop. Cup of coffee. Local specialties include Leidse kaas (Leiden cheese), enriched with cumin and cloves and available at the semi-weekly open air market, held on Wednesdays and Saturdays in Nieuwe Rijn.
- From Catwalk (Steenstraat 30): Diners can enjoy the beautiful view of the pier at this cafe and lunch, located directly opposite the site where the Leiden canal tours depart; Soups, sandwiches and assorted snacks are featured on their varied menu, but the real draw is espresso-based drinks and rich Italian hot chocolate (in season).
- Djebena (No. Come with friends and order a sample of East African stews, served on top of their irresistible injera , a fermented flatbread made from teff flour.
- Eethuis Ak Al (Stationsweg 18) – Ak Al’s tiled interior is almost as casual as a typical kebab shop, but the food: custom-made lahmacun (Turkish pizza), hearty soups and stews, and the best kebab in döner in Leiden. far exceeds that of its competitors.
- De Gaanderij (Nieuwstraat 32) – French-influenced cuisine at student-influenced prices is the house specialty at De Gaanderij, whose menu focuses on refined meat and seafood dishes; However, I loved the puff pastry covered camembert with berry jam, served over risotto. Connected to the restaurant is the De Branderij bar, whose walls with Art Nouveau-style murals a la Alphonse Mucha are worth a visit in themselves.
Annual festivals and events in Leiden:
- Leids Ontzet (October 3) – The Spanish occupation of Leiden ended in 1547, and Leidenaars celebrates the occasion to this day with a scandalous carnival that draws crowds from all over the neighborhood.
- Leids Filmfestival (annually in October) – This annual film festival features a cross-section of blockbusters from the Hollywood and international film industries, as well as independent and artsy films, in Leiden’s multiple cinemas and even in its museums.
