Leiden

Leiden (Netherlands) – the most detailed information about the city with a photo. The main attractions of Leiden with a description, guides and maps.

Leiden (Netherlands)

Leiden – a city in the west of the Netherlands in the province of South Holland. Located on the Old Rhine River between Amsterdam and The Hague Leiden is one of the most picturesque cities in the Netherlands, which is known for a magnificent historic center with channels and The oldest university in the country. Also here were born such famous artists like: Rembrandt, Jan Steen, Jan van Goyen and Lucas van leiden

1. Geography and climate
2. Practical information
3. Story
4. sights
5. Video
6. Maps and guides
7. Comments and reviews

Geography and climate

Leiden is located in the north of the province of South Holland, 45 km to southwest of Amsterdam and 18 km northeast of The Hague. Through the city flows the river Old Rhine. Also Leiden is penetrated by a network channels, the most famous and beautiful among which is Rapenburg. Climate – temperate sea with warm summer and mild in the winter.

Leiden is best accessible by train. The trip from The Hague will take 10-15 minutes, from Schiphol Airport – 20 minutes, from Amsterdam – about 30 minutes.

Leiden in the snow

Practical information

1. The population is more than 110 thousand people.
2. The area is 23.16 km².
3. Currency – Euro.
4. Visa – Schengen.
5. Language – Dutch (Dutch).
6. Time – UTC +1, summer +2.
7. The main shopping streets are Haarlemmerstraat and Breestraat. They 10-15 minutes walk from the central station. By Saturdays between Nieuwe Rijn and Vismarkt streets along the canal market.
8. In the area of ​​Pieterswijk (on the east side of Breestraat) you can find a lot of cozy restaurants.

Story

The first mentions of Leiden date back to the year 860. The city originated near the dam on the south side of the Old Rhine. In the 12th century there was built a castle, around which grew a trading settlement. In 1266 Leiden was granted city rights. During the Hundred Years wars many Belgian weavers fled here, laying the groundwork textile industry and the further prosperity of Leiden in Middle Ages.

Canal in leiden

In 1420, Leiden was conquered by the Duke of Bavaria. In 1572 The city joined the Union of Utrecht against Spanish domination. In 1574, the Spaniards laid siege to Leiden. To lift the siege of the Dutch I had to open the floodgates and flood the city. This allowed the marine ships practically enter Leiden and deliver food. AT the reward for this wilhelm of orange allowed the townspeople to establish the university.

Leiden

Leiden flourished until the 17th century. In the 18th century, textile the industry fell into disrepair, which greatly affected the welfare of the city. Now Leiden is one of the main cultural and research centers in the Netherlands.

Night in Leiden

sights

Old city Leyden

Leiden’s Old Town is one of the most beautiful in The Netherlands. Medieval sights preserved here and ancient architecture. The size of the historical core is inferior only Amsterdam. The old city is permeated with a network of canals. Area between Oude Rijn and Nieuwe Rijn are one of the most intact parts of Leiden, which has been preserved in its original condition from the 16th – 17th centuries.

Leiden Castle

Leiden Castle – a defensive structure of the 11th century, built on top of an artificial 12-meter hill. To the castle You can get through the old gate with the image of a lion with a city coat of arms. The fort was once surrounded by a chain of walls 35 meters in diameter, and also two channels, one of which can still be seen at the foot of the hill. The tower was built in the 17th century. From here it opens stunning view of the old Leiden.

Church of sv. Petra

Church of sv. Petra – the oldest church of Leiden, founded in 1121 year as a count chapel. By the 16th century the building turned into a large church with an impressive interior, stained glass, Late Gothic pulpit and body of the 16th century. Rich inner the decoration was significantly damaged during the Reformation. In the church there is the tomb of outstanding artist Jan Wall and 10 others ancient tombstones.

Church of sv. Pankratia

Church of sv. Pankratia (Hooglandse Kerk) dates from the 15th century and was built next to the old castle. This is a beautiful gothic the building was never completed, so the building has bizarre structure – the low nave does not coincide with the high choir and transept The church also has large windows, numerous Gothic ornaments and the widest gothic transept in the world. The street next to the church (Hooglandse Kerkgracht) is located on the site old channel and is one of the most atmospheric in the old the city of Leiden.

Marsh Gate

Marsh gates – city gates of the early 17th century, located on the western edge of the old town. In the past it was not the most a pleasant place to enter the city since there were exhibited the bodies of hanged criminals. Named so because from the west to Leiden was surrounded by swamps.

Zijlpoort

Zijlpoort is located in the eastern part of the old city. it city ​​gate of the 17th century, which have many decorations and are similar with roman triumphal arches.

In the Middle Ages, Leiden led 8 city gates. Until our only two such structures have survived.

Town hall

Town Hall – a historic public building built at the end 16th century in the style of the Dutch Renaissance.

Academiegebouw

The historic building of the University of Leiden Academiegebouw – Leiden’s oldest building dating back to the 15th century. University took it from an ancient monastery. Despite several transformation and reconstruction, the original neo-gothic the architecture of the building remains virtually untouched. Here now Graduation and protection of scientific theses.

Church of sv. Mary’s

Church of sv. Mary’s is a beautiful historic church built in 16th century.

Fish bridge

The old town of Leiden is penetrated by dozens of channels, the total the length of which is 28 km. No wonder here built a lot of bridges. The most famous of them: Fish Bridge (Visbrug) and Grain Bridge (Koornbrug). Fish Bridge is Leiden’s oldest bridge. It was built in the 12th century. AT Middle Ages fishermen sold their catch on it. Grain Bridge dates from 1642 year.

Weight building

The weight building (Waag) is a historic building with an interesting relief on the facade, built in 1657.

Windmill museum mills

Leiden Museums:

• Boerhaave is a museum of the history of medicine and science.
• National Museum of Antiquities – exhibits from Egypt and the Middle East, Ancient Greece and the Roman Empire.
• The Leiden windmill museum is housed in an impressive a seven-story stone mill built in 1743.
• Leiden City Museum – an impressive collection of paintings leading Dutch artists of the 16th and 17th centuries, including Jan van Goyen, Rembrandt and Jan Steen.
• The Ethnological Museum – extensive collections from around the world with focusing on exhibits from indonesia and japan.
• Netherlands National Museum of Natural History – ten millions of animal and insect specimens, as well as minerals and gems.

Video

Maps and guides

City map

Leiden on the map of the Netherlands