Leiden, Netherlands(Holland) Travel, Hotels, Attractions, Flights

Websites for Leiden

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Leiden is a city and municipality in the province of South Holland in The Netherlands. It is located on the Old Rhine, close to the cities of The Hague and Haarlem.

Attractions

Because of the economic decline in 17th to early 20th century Leiden much of the 16th and 17th century town centre is still intact.

Fortifications

At the strategically important junction of the two arms of the Old Rhine stands the old castle De Burcht, a circular tower built on an earthen mound. The mound probably was a refuge against high water before a small wooden fortress was built on top of it in the 11th century. Of Leiden's old city gates only two are left, the Zijlpoort and the Morspoort, both dating from the end of the 17th century. Apart from one small watch tower on the Singel nothing is left of the town's city walls. Another former fortification is the Gravensteen. Built as a fortress in the 13th century it has since served as house, library and prison. Presently it is one of the University's buildings.

Other buildings

Some other interesting buildings are the town hall (Stadhuis), a 16th century building that was badly damaged by a fire in 1929); the Gemeenslandshuis van Rynland (1596, restored in 1878); the weigh house (Waag), built by Pieter Post; the former court-house (Gerecht); a corn-grinding windmill, now home to a museum (Molen de Valk) (1743); the old gymnasium (Latijnse School) (1599) and the city carpenter's yard and wharf (Stadstimmerwerf) (1612), both built by Lieven de Key (c. 1560-1627). Another building of interest is the "pesthuis", which was built at that time just outside the city for curing patients suffering the bubonic plague. However, after it was built the feared disease didn't occur in the Netherlands anymore so it was never used for its original purpose, it now serves as the entrance of Naturalis one of the largest natural history museums in the world. Oudt Leyden, the so called oldest pancake house (pannekoeken huis in Dutch) in Europe is home to its famous large pancakes and delft croquery, it's also known for serving the likes of Winston Churchill and the Dhali Lama.

Museums and libraries

Stedelijk Museum de Lakenhal Municipal Museum
Rijksmuseum van Oudheden National Museum of Antiquities
Naturalis National Museum of Natural History
Rijksmuseum Volkenkunde National Museum of Ethnology
Museum Boerhaave National Museum of the History of Science and Medicine
Molen de Valk Museum Windmill
Hortus Botanicus Hortus Botanicus Leiden
Leiden American Pilgrim Museum, museum dedicated to the Pilgrim Fathers
Penningkabine National Museum of Coins and Medals
Universiteitsbibliotheek Leiden Leiden University Library
Siebold House





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			Websites for Leiden Stadsportal Leiden Leiden Hotels/Accommodations & Reservations city Of Leiden We have no traveler comments for Leiden, Netherlands. Help us and your fellow travelers and be the first. Click here to log your comments. Thank you. Welcome to Leiden Leiden is a city and municipality in the province of South Holland in The Netherlands. It is located on the Old Rhine, close to the cities of The Hague and Haarlem. Attractions Because of the economic decline in 17th to early 20th century Leiden much of the 16th and 17th century town centre is still intact. Fortifications At the strategically important junction of the two arms of the Old Rhine stands the old castle De Burcht, a circular tower built on an earthen mound. The mound probably was a refuge against high water before a small wooden fortress was built on top of it in the 11th century. Of Leiden's old city gates only two are left, the Zijlpoort and the Morspoort, both dating from the end of the 17th century. Apart from one small watch tower on the Singel nothing is left of the town's city walls. Another former fortification is the Gravensteen. Built as a fortress in the 13th century it has since served as house, library and prison. Presently it is one of the University's buildings. Other buildings Some other interesting buildings are the town hall (Stadhuis), a 16th century building that was badly damaged by a fire in 1929); the Gemeenslandshuis van Rynland (1596, restored in 1878); the weigh house (Waag), built by Pieter Post; the former court-house (Gerecht); a corn-grinding windmill, now home to a museum (Molen de Valk) (1743); the old gymnasium (Latijnse School) (1599) and the city carpenter's yard and wharf (Stadstimmerwerf) (1612), both built by Lieven de Key (c. 1560-1627). Another building of interest is the "pesthuis", which was built at that time just outside the city for curing patients suffering the bubonic plague. However, after it was built the feared disease didn't occur in the Netherlands anymore so it was never used for its original purpose, it now serves as the entrance of Naturalis one of the largest natural history museums in the world. Oudt Leyden, the so called oldest pancake house (pannekoeken huis in Dutch) in Europe is home to its famous large pancakes and delft croquery, it's also known for serving the likes of Winston Churchill and the Dhali Lama. Museums and libraries Stedelijk Museum de Lakenhal Municipal Museum Rijksmuseum van Oudheden National Museum of Antiquities Naturalis National Museum of Natural History Rijksmuseum Volkenkunde National Museum of Ethnology Museum Boerhaave National Museum of the History of Science and Medicine Molen de Valk Museum Windmill Hortus Botanicus Hortus Botanicus Leiden Leiden American Pilgrim Museum, museum dedicated to the Pilgrim Fathers Penningkabine National Museum of Coins and Medals Universiteitsbibliotheek Leiden Leiden University Library Siebold House