My first stop in the Netherlands after the Keukenhof Flower Gardens was to go see Leiden, a quiet little old town with one of Europe’s oldest universities. As a first stop in the Netherlands, this was my first introduction to canal life, and the center of the town is as charming as it can get.
Walking around town is tranquil and picturesque, with chilled locals and hidden gems around every corner.
The town isn’t all just canals, lots of lovely streets, cathedrals and forts…
As for Leiden University, I didn’t get to see very much as the campus was closed. But, there were charming gardens to visit and a few old buildings to see…
There are also a few attractions, like the Burcht…
With nice views of the town from above…
A street market was taking place when I was there, with lots of yummy cheese and other deli delicacies…
And… though definitely not a much, you can go inside some of the town windmills and learn a bit about what life in a windmill used to be like.
With more views of the town.
Map:
I spent half a day there before moving on to the Hague for my stay that night. More to follow.