My Favorite Dutch Cities: Leiden

Leiden is small city in region Zuid-Holland. With 122, 565 inhabitants it is the fourth biggest city in the region after Rotterdam, The Hague and Zoetermeer. Leiden holds the oldest university in The Netherlands. You can imagine the city as a petite version of Amsterdam. You will see the typical Dutch houses and briges at the canals. Some places you should definitely see are the castle, windmill, church, museum, and the city's absolute best restaurant.

City centre - Source

Sightseeing

First of all, just go for a stroll in the city center. You will get an idea of the city, all the canals and bridges are a sweet typically Dutch sight. Try to notice the walls of some houses, you will see some poems in foreign languages, perhaps even your own language or another one happen to know. The poems, which were written in many different languages, are meant to be for everybody. In most cases a small plaque is placed beneath the poem containing translations in Dutch and English. James Brockway did most of the English translations. The initiators of this project hope that passers-by are stimulated by the poems as well as by the visual image of the letters against the background formed by the wall. The reader/viewer is confronted by various sorts of characters that refer to different cultures. The common thread throughout this project is that many of these poems reflect upon language, colour, or upon the life as a poet.

Poems - Source

Molen de Valk

This windmill is situated in the center of the city near the train station. It is one of the characteristic sights of the city. Inside there's also a museum : here is the website.

Molen - Source

De burcht van Leiden

This castle is one of the last examples of its kind in the Netherlands. Although it is probably not the next filming spot for the new episode of Game of Thrones it is still a very interesting sight and thus definitely worth seeing when

Burcht - Source

Restaurant Quartier Latin Leiden

My favorite place in Leiden is Quartier Latin. This mediterranean tapas bar is also a winebar. Trust me when I say that they have the best wines in town!

Here is the website.

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