Another lovely day in Leiden - just perfect for checking out many of the attractions in this beautiful city. We started at the De Valk windmill museum, which gave us an insight into how windmills work and especially this one which was originally a corn mill here. Next we saw one of only 2 remaining city gates which was very impressive, followed by a reconstructed flour mill that was totally different in design and operation to the De Valk windmill.
After a delicious cake and coffee stop we continued along one of the canals that led to the Hartebrug church, a very fancy and quite different Catholic Church. Nearby, but hidden by the city that grew up around it, was The Fortress. This was a mound that was built by the townspeople as early as the 9th century as a refuge against floods and attackers, and then in the 11th century a stonewall enclosure was added. If this structure wasn't shown on the map you wouldn't know it was there! However you got some great views, especially of the Hooglandse church which was our next stop.
The biggest church in town is the Pieterskerk, a 12th century building that contains a huge pipe organ with pipes that go back to the 15th century, as well as lots of old memorial stones of famous people who lived (and died) here. There was also a memorial to the Pilgrims who lived nearby before they sailed to America. This church was very impressive.
We loved walking around the old town, especially along the canals, admiring the buildings and shops, but always keeping an eye out for bikes in the small streets and alleyways. The last church for the day was the Marekerk, a 17th century church with beautiful bells which we heard often as we had dinner on a floating terrace on a nearby canal!
After dinner we had time to check out the birthplace of Leiden's most famous son - Rembrandt. In the square where he was born there is a statue of Rembrandt as a boy, with a bronze of him as an older man. We also saw the school where he learnt Latin and Greek and had painting lessons. They obviously paid of for him! Another great day in Leiden.
After a delicious cake and coffee stop we continued along one of the canals that led to the Hartebrug church, a very fancy and quite different Catholic Church. Nearby, but hidden by the city that grew up around it, was The Fortress. This was a mound that was built by the townspeople as early as the 9th century as a refuge against floods and attackers, and then in the 11th century a stonewall enclosure was added. If this structure wasn't shown on the map you wouldn't know it was there! However you got some great views, especially of the Hooglandse church which was our next stop.
The biggest church in town is the Pieterskerk, a 12th century building that contains a huge pipe organ with pipes that go back to the 15th century, as well as lots of old memorial stones of famous people who lived (and died) here. There was also a memorial to the Pilgrims who lived nearby before they sailed to America. This church was very impressive.
We loved walking around the old town, especially along the canals, admiring the buildings and shops, but always keeping an eye out for bikes in the small streets and alleyways. The last church for the day was the Marekerk, a 17th century church with beautiful bells which we heard often as we had dinner on a floating terrace on a nearby canal!
After dinner we had time to check out the birthplace of Leiden's most famous son - Rembrandt. In the square where he was born there is a statue of Rembrandt as a boy, with a bronze of him as an older man. We also saw the school where he learnt Latin and Greek and had painting lessons. They obviously paid of for him! Another great day in Leiden.
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