Page 223 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - The Netherlands

LEIDEN  221

of mathematics, astronomy,
physics, chemistry and medicine. The Pilgrim Fathers
Exhibits range from a magnificent In the 17th century, the
15th­century astrolabe and Netherlands was a refuge for
pendulum clocks by Christiaan English Puritans. Minister John
Huygens (1629–95) to surgeons’ Robinson (1575–1625) founded a
equipment of yesteryear and church in Leiden in 1609, where
early electron microscopes. he inspired his congregation with
his dream of the New World. The
E Museum Volkenkunde Pilgrim Fathers set out in 1620 from
Steenstraat 1. Tel 071­5168800. Delfshaven aboard the Speedwell,
Open 10am–5pm Tue–Sun & public but the ship proved to be unsea­
hols. Closed 1 Jan, 27 Apr, 3 Oct, worthy. They then crossed the
25 Dec. & 7 - = Atlantic from Plymouth, England,
∑ volkenkunde.nl on the Mayflower, but Robinson
This excellent ethnological stayed behind, too ill to travel. The Mayflower crossing the
museum, founded in 1837, has He died in Leiden in 1625. Atlantic Ocean
collections which feature non­
Western cultures, such as
ethnographic items brought century, stands in the middle of There is a marvellous view of
by the German explorer a shady square that seems Leiden’s historic centre from
Philipp von Siebold from to be from a different age. the gallery.
Japan in the 19th It is worth a visit for its austere
century. The vast interior and the carefully E Rijksmuseum van
collection focuses restored Van Oudheden
on the interaction Hagerbeer Rapenburg 28. Tel 0900­6600600.
between various organ (1639– Open 10am–5pm Tue–Sun & public
cultures and their 43), one of the world’s hols. Closed 1 Jan, 27 Apr, 3 Oct, 25
links with the few meantone­tuned Dec. & 7 8 - = ∑ rmo.nl
Netherlands; organs. The floor of This museum has one of the
hence Indonesia Heraldic lion at De Burcht the nave is covered top seven Egyptian collections
has a consider­ with worn stones, in the world, the centrepiece
able amount of floor space. The which mark the graves of famous of which is the 2,000­year­old
museum covers practically the 17th­century intellectuals such as Taffeh Temple. Other civilizations
whole world, from the Arctic Puritan leader John Robinson, from the Near East and from
to Oceania. physician Hermanus Boerhaave Classical Antiquity are also
and Golden Age artist Jan Steen. represented. The section on
E Naturalis Biodiversity archaeology of the Netherlands
Center + De Burcht gives visitors an idea of what
Darwinweg 2. Tel 071­5687600. Burgsteeg. Open daily. the Low Countries were like
Open 10am–5pm daily. Closed 27 The Burcht is a 12th­century from prehistoric times to the
Apr, 3 Oct, 25 Dec. & 7 8 - = fortress which features a still­ Middle Ages. Mummies,
∑ naturalis.nl intact circular wall and textiles and shoes, musical
Opened in 1998, the national crenellated battlements. At the instruments and fragments of
natural history museum, attracted foot of the 12­m (39­ft) artificial Roman mosaics and frescoes
a record number of visitors. It mound is a wrought­iron gate form just part of the museum’s
provides a truly fascinating insight covered in heraldic symbols. impressive holdings.
into the evolution of the earth and
its inhabitants with displays of
fossils more than a million years
old, and lifelike replicas of animals,
stones and minerals. The star
exhibit is a complete skeleton of a
Tyrannosaurus rex, discovered in
Montana in 2013. Special exhi­
bitions for children are also held.
P Pieterskerk
Pieterskerkhof 1a. Tel 071­5124319.
Open 11am–6pm daily, except when
church is hired out (check website).
Closed 3 Oct. 7 ∑ pieterskerk.com
This impressive Gothic cruciform
church, built mainly in the 15th A drawbridge across the Oude Rijn in Leiden

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