Linda and Roxy's trip through the Netherlands & Norway

5th posting on May 9, 2024 ..... Back to the welcome page and listings for other links

Leiden, Netherlands
Leiden is a university town with over 20,000 students. The University of Leiden is the oldest in the Netherlands, dating back to 1575! Other Leiden claims to fame, are the birthplace of Rembrandt and the final European home of the Pilgrims before they sailed to America. Leiden's old town is located around & between the 2 branches of the Rhine which merge and flow to the North Sea. As with most of the cities in the Netherlands there are many canals.

Our email address is gusrox30@gmail.com . Feel free to drop a note and say hello anytime!

Wondering if this is the room we booked in Leiden? Not too sure, but someone answered when we rang the bell. It’s a B&B apartment. The location was great, along a canal with lots of eateries with outdoor seating.

This is the approach to the 2nd story landing. The 1st stairs were just as narrow & steep but had a wheelchair lift. Every lodging is different for sure. There were 3 rooms on this level with a shared kitchen. Very comfy & we got a stairmaster workout too!

The restaurants have outdoor seating that follows the canal on both sides for several blocks. A warm, sunny day drew the crowds.

Wednesday & Saturday were market days. Vendors set up along the canal just outside our B&B. We couldn’t resist some of the bakery treats.

There were many different products for sale at the market. These nuts were mostly sold in 8 oz containers. The variety was amazing.

Of course there was cheese at the market, also lots of fabric. This was early Wednesday before the market got busy. It appeared many locals were shopping.

On the left is the Old Rhine (Ould Rijn) River, the one on the right is the New Rhine (Nieuwe Rijn) River. The branches flow together in the center of Leiden to become the Rhine River.

Linda does love her coffee! Bagels & Beans is now a favorite. She says this is actually a COFFEE shop, no cannabis. Like most of these little shops, they have a very nice sitting area upstairs.

This is De Burcht, an artificial mound built in the 8th or 9th century. There was never a big fortress here, just a walled courtyard where people could find safety in times of siege. The circle of rocks is a well with the wellhead down on the market canal.

This is the gothic Hooglandse Kerk (church) viewed from De Burch. The earliest parts of the church date back to the last quarter of the 14th century. Hard to picture the construction so many years ago!

We are staying in the old towns areas of the cities we’re visiting. These areas are from the medieval days of horses & wagons. The streets are the same width with new rules of use. While we wander around window shopping or admiring architecture or art, vigilance is required to prevent collisions.

It was a busy walk to the train station! As crowded as some of the streets are, we haven’t heard honking or yelling. Folks seem quite patient.