Walk through the Dutch city of canals

• Walk through the Dutch city of canals

Leiden city is located in the delta of the river the Old Rhine, midway between Amsterdam and The Hague. In my opinion, it has more channels than in other Dutch cities.

The first mention of Leiden in the ancient chronicles dated 922 year. In the twelfth century, thanks to the construction of the castle began to actively develop trade. During the Hundred Years War, the city immigrated many iprskie weavers, which gave impetus to the development of the textile industry in Leiden.

During the 80-year war for the independence of the Netherlands (1566-1648 years) Leiden twice besieged by the Spaniards. In order to lift the blockade, William of Orange, founder of the royal dynasty, ordered to break the dam. Spanish troops were forced to retreat under the onslaught of water.

By the spilled water liberators came to the gates of the city on sailboats. Since October 3 - Day of Liberation, in Leiden celebratory bread and herring - the same food that was brought to the starving Dutch rebels.

In gratitude for the resistance, rendered to the enemy, William of Orange gave residents the right to choose between the tax exemption and the university building. The city chose knowledge, and in 1575 at Leiden University was founded. Here Rene Descartes taught, studied Rembrandt, Queen Beatrix and crown prince Willem-Alexander. Today, Leiden University remains one of the most famous in Europe.

In fact, when I was planning to visit this city, was the reason for this is only one - to see the Leyden jar. It was here that was invented by a capacitor. This was the main purpose of visiting the city. But when I walked through the streets, admiring the channels and prop up their homes, I realized that it is one of the most beautiful cities in the Netherlands:

And it turned out that in Leiden a lot of museums and they are all interesting.

Unfortunately, time was to visit only one museum

Open the map on the phone, I went to him, simultaneously examining the neighborhood:

constantly crossing various channels:

houses built in the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries:

Here is a narrow street:

bicycles and people began to fall at the approach to the city center:

The center itself was packed with vacationers in full:

All cafes crammed:

pushed to the foot of the bulk of the hill on which the castle stands Byurht van Leyden (more precisely, its remnants). It rises 12 meters above the general landscape:

It was erected in the XI century on the confluence of the tributaries of the Rhine, in order to control and protect the crossing.

The main entrance was on the west and was a very narrow arched gate. Later made more spacious entrance on the opposite side of the square tower, which protected the gate, only the foundation remained. To the present day residential and farm buildings of the castle did not survive.

The stone walls in diameter greater than 35 meters, 6 meters high and nearly a meter thick. First walls were made of tuff, but numerous gaps after repeated sieges were sealed with bricks.