Page 220 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - The Netherlands

218  WESTERN NE THERLANDS

4 Street-by-Street: Leiden

Leiden is a thriving university town which dates from . Rijksmuseum
Roman times. The town developed because of its van Oudheden
position on a branch of the Rhine and is still an This squat statue of a
kneeling treasury
important trade centre. Some excellent museums scribe is just one of
chart Leiden’s eventful past, including the Golden the many impressive
Age, when the town was a centre for world trade (see Egyptian artifacts on
display in this fascinating
pp52–3). Rembrandt van Rijn (see pp30–31) was born museum of antiquities.
here in June 1606 – a plaque on the façade of a
Weddesteeg house marks his birthplace. During
term time, the streets of Leiden are busy with
students cycling between lectures or frequenting
the cafés and bookshops.
L A N G E B R U G

S
C
H
O
P A
O
P
L
E
S
N
T
G
E
R
E G
A
. Hortus Botanicus C T
H
The botanical gardens belonging to the
University of Leiden (see p220) were started
in 1590 “for the teaching of every body who
studies in the medicinal sciences”. G E R E C H T
R
H O U T S T R A A T
A
P
0 metres 50 E N
0 yards 50 B R G
U
K L O K S T E E G
N O N N E N S T E E G
Façades
Aristocrats, professors
and textile families all Dutch Classicism can be
contributed to the face seen in the university
of the Leiden canals. buildings on Rapenburg.

Het Gravensteen
Part of the law faculty is now
accommodated in this for mer
count’s prison, built between
the 13th and 17th centuries.
For hotels and restaurants in this region see pp397–8 and pp410–11

218-219_EW_Netherlands.indd 218 16/01/17 12:05 pm
Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Starsight template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.7)
Date 24th April 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm