Leiden Things to Do Tips by tompt

Leiden is a great place to make a citywalk. There are several interesting places to see in the citycentre. At the touristinfo you can buy booklets with the routes and descriptions of the monuments you see. we made a citywalk in december 2005. In this walk we combined three different booklets. So let us take you on a citywalk through Leiden.

We started from the parkingplace at the Haagweg. (max 5 euro per day, with free shuttle to the citycentre, 2005 prices) From the parkingplace we went right into the Haagweg, which after crossing the water became Noordeinde. Unexpectected we saw the first great sight across the water: the former building of the Leidsch Dagblad. It is located along the Witte Singel. Build by Willem Marinus Dudok (1884 - 1974), architect of Leiden, in 1913. The building is now restored and transformed into a courthouse (Kantongerecht Leiden).

The map of the route we took can be found in travelogue.

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Address: Witte Singel

In 2006 it is 400 years since Rembrandt, the famous painter, was born here in Leiden.
The entire year there will be festivities and special expositions. More info about the program on the website mentioned below.

15 july 1606 Rembrandt van Rijn was born in the Weddesteeg in Leiden. He was the youngest son of Harmen Gerritszoon van Rijn, a miller. Leiden is florishing city. At the age of ten Rembrandt is sent to the Latin School. (we will see the actual school during this city walk) At the age of 15 he registers at the university. Altough he didn't study much he had the benefit of taxe free beer and wine and didn't have to serve in the city army. He starts his artistic study with the artist Jacob Isaacszoon van Swanenburgh. In 1624 Rembrandt starts his artist work in Leiden.
In 1631 vindt Rembrandt starts in Amsterdam, to broaden his horizon and get more customers.

The first sign of Rembrandt in Leiden we encounter is his statue at the Witte Singel.

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Website: http://www.rembrandt400-leiden.nl/

We proceed along Noordeinde untill the Oude Varkenmarkt. Turn right into this street. The name refers to its use in the old days. It was the place where pigs (varkens) were sold.

At your right hand you will find the Pieter Loridanshofje. It is an almshouse built in 1656 with the money of Pieter Loridan at his grounds behind his inn. Pieter was a refuge from the spanish inquisition. He lost his family and fellow refugees during the plague epidemic in 1655 and decided to built an almshouse. Shortly after he put this decission in his will he also died of the plague. His will was carried out and the 12 almshouses provided living spaces for the poor, but good people. This meant people of his origin and faith.

The text above the entrance gate freely translated: Those who were believers and honest people, but poor and old, were relieved from that burdon here, now that Pieter Loridan built this almshouses.

Bread, peat to cook on and beer (twice daily) was included with the free housing.
After the second worlwar there was no more money and the houses fell in decay. The Foundation Leidse Studentenhuisvesting bought it in 1964. Architect P. van der Stère restored the houses. Today students are living here, but no free beer anymore.........

More about the almshouses in Leiden in the general tips.

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Address: Oude Varkensmarkt 1

At the end of the Varkenmarkt you cross the Groenhazengracht.

In the 17th century this area was the red light district of Leiden. In this house on the corner worked a prostitute nicknamed: het groene haasje (the green hare). The entire street is now named after her. No red light district anymore, but some increadible houses are found here along the canal.

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Directions: See the travelogue for the map.

At the end of the Oude Varkenmarkt, on the corner with the Groenhazengracht we see the Doelenpoort. The entrance gate to the St Jorisdoelen, built in 1645. This was the practice grounds for the Schutterij. The Schutterij was a sort of city army, in which every man between 18 and 60 had to serve. They protected Leiden, stopped uproars in the city and supplied soldiers for the army of Holland. Rembrandts father did serve in the Schutterij until he got wounded when a granate exploded. After that he bought his way out by paying money to the Schutterij until his son could serve. Rembrandt himself got exemption because he was registerred at the university.
At the top of the gate you see St Joris (George) and the dragon. St George being the patron saint of the marksmen.

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Address: Doelengracht
Directions: Entrance to the Doelengracht form the Groenhazengracht

Go under the Doelenpoort into the Doelengracht. At the other side of the water you will see some nice facades. Nr 7 is the side entrance to the Eva van Hoogeveenshofje, above it is the regentsroom. The maingate though is in the Doelensteeg, the next street left. Also at nr 7, you will find the entrance gate dating back to 1659. Although the almshouses were built in 1654 after Eva, a rich unmarried lady, died.

Above the entrance gate it says in Latin that the nobel and chaste virgin Eva van Hoogeveen founded the almshouses in 1650. In the family coat oof arms you will see a lamb. This lamb can also be found on the waterpump inside at the courtyard.

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Address: Doelensteeg 7

Continue through the Doelensteeg untill the canal. This is the Rapenburg.

The Rapenburg is one of the most pretty streets of Leiden. The canal was dug out around 1250 as a moat to protect the city. It is an important street since in the golden age the rich people built their houses along the canal. This street is a reminder of the important city Leiden once was.

This street is also the location of one of the largest disasters in the history of Holland. A ship filled with gunpowder exploded here 12 january 1807 . Distroying many houses and killing 151 people.

Today it is just a nice street to walk along and enjoy the beautifull facades. In the summer you can row along the canal.

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Go right, with the canal on your left hand. At your right hand you will see a building with a clocktower this is the academic building.

As a reward of their brave restistance against the Spanish, Willem van Oranje gave the city the right to have a university in 1575. The motto of the university was: Praesidium Libertatis, "bastion of freedom". The university was financed with the money of the Catholic abbey of Egmond, that together with the castle of Egmond was destroyed in 1573 by the Geuzen at the order of Willem van Oranje. The university of leiden had to became a protestant counterpart of the Catholic university of Leuven (now in Belgium).

The university was first housed in the Sinte Barbara monastery (also a catholic organisation banned form here), and moved in 1577 to the Faliede Beguinage at the Rapenburg, and eventually in 1581 choose the confiscated monastery of the White Nuns at the other side of the canal. Today the building is still in use by the university.

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Phone: tel. +31 (0)71 5687600
Address: Rapenburg 73

Hortus Botanicus Is one of the oldest botanical gardens in Europe. It was established around 1587. You can see some nice gardens here, located along the Singel. There are also several tropical greenhouses. Entrance is at the Rapenburg.

The garden was established by Carolus Clusius, Leidens first herbatologist. He was also the man who brought the tulip to Holland.

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Address: Rapenburg 73
Website: http://www.hortusleiden.nl/

Cross the bridge over the Rapenburg here. And enter into the Kloksteeg. This street is taking you to the Pieterskerk.

The Gotic Pieterskerk was the main church in Leiden. From 1121 there was a chapel on this spot. It was the chapel of the Counts of Holland, in their backyard. The church, as it is now, started from 1390. The first tower was 120 meters high. It collapsed in 1512 and was never rebuilt.
Due to the Reformation the church came into protestant hands in 1572. This meant all the rich catholic artpieces were destroyed. Only one altarpiece of Lucas van Leyden survived, it is now in the citymuseum the Lakenhal.

The building is no longer in use as a church, but it is now used for cultural purposes.
In the chuirch you will find the graves of many famous people, like the painter Jan Steen, the family of Rembrandt, and the leader of the Pilgrim Fathers John Robinson.

The Pulgrim Fathers fled england, where they were persued for their faith. Leiden (as most of Holland) was very tolerant and like many other faiths they found refuge here. They lived here for 12 years. Then they became irritated by the tolerance that first sheltered them. They thought there was too much freedom here and moved to the New World (today USA) around 1620.

During our citywalk the church was hidden behind buildingmaterial, as renovation is going on. But in januari 2006, we will visit a travelfair there, and make some pictures from the inside.

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Address: Pieterskerkhof.
Website: http://www.pieterskerk.com