Last Monday we visited Leiden, the oldest university city in the Netherlands, and one of Europe's most prominent scientific centres in Europe for four centuries. Leiden is also twinned with Oxford.
Leiden has been a university city since 1575.
Unfortunately it was an extremely hot day last Monday so we sort of dragged ourselves around the city. We also had problems with the trains going to Leiden and returning to Utrecht, which were caused, sadly, by 'accidents' on the line. In other words, people jumping off platforms in front of trains. I am not sure if the heat contributed to the people's mental problems.
Anyway we set off very early, 9.30 am and should have arrived in Leiden by about 10.15 am. Instead we arrived in Leiden at 12 o'clock, having gone to a Bodegraven, where the train then went back to Utrecht and onto Den Haag, where we changed to another train for Leiden.
Our first view of the first canal, and the windmill at the end. We stopped at a cafe for two very cold non alcoholic beers, plus lunch,
for me an uitsmijter, three fried eggs, on ham and bread. Not really suitable for a hot day though. Walter ordered an enormous club sandwich with chips. We obviously needed a bit of sustenance after the long journey.
Then it was off to explore Leiden. A cool scene in the shade of the trees.
We have found that all the cities we have visited have the same jagged canal surrounding the oldest part of the city. Plus inner canals and rivers that run through them. I am not sure if it was part of the defence system or just part of the overall waterway system for barges and sailing boats.
I think most of the students in Leiden had finished their studies for the year, or were busy completing their last assignments as there were mostly tourists walking around the streets.
The beautiful Catholic Church in the centre of Leiden. Most impressive.
And when we went inside we could see it was a very traditional church.
Another city scene. Lots of bikes. Interestingly I finally learnt after this trip, about crossing a road which has bicycle lanes on both sides of the road, plus vehicles in the centre. Kylie very kindly sent me an article about crossing roads.
It goes something like this: If there is a pedestrian crossing, it will usually be on the car part of the road, where vehicles are meant to give way to pedestrians. If there is a pedestrian crossing on the bike path, then it is important to let the cyclists know you are intending to cross the road, as they will slow down, and go around you. Up until I read the article I tended to dither, which then confuses the cyclists. The cyclists of course do not really want to stop. Too difficult. I have now become an assertive pedestrian. Mind you, one has to keep an eye out all the time for cyclists as they seem to come from nowhere. To step back without looking first is quite often a step into a moving bicycle. Ouch.
An old weighing house, which is now a restaurant and bar.
There are plenty of cafes lining he canals.
The town hall.
Lovely old narrow streets, which were a little cooler on this hot day.
Another church. I did not make any notes, sadly, so of course now I cannot remember the name of the churches.
Walter standing outside the entrance to the botanical gardens, which was our main destination that day.
The Hortus botanicus Leiden is the oldest botanical garden in Western Europe. It was founded in 1590 and planted in 1594, and since its foundation the garden has belonged to the university. Most of the plants come from eastern Asia, that is China and Japan and through to Australia and New Zealand.
A view of the gardens beside the university building.
The usual Yukkas, looking a little forlorn.
A Cordyline from New Zealand.
These trees and shrubs are placed in the Orangery during winter time.
We have this twiggy plant in our garden, and it grows up into the nearest shrubs. A plant that is very invasive, as it has a root system like couch. It is going to take me ages to get rid of it when I get back. The one in the photograph below has been grown in a pot. At least I now have a name for it. Ephedra equisetina Bunge from Siberia, China
The high walkway in the glass house, which was installed a couple of years ago.
Beautiful tropical flowers.
Giant lily pads in another hothouse.
A shady view of the canal. We sat here for quite a while in order to cool off a bit.
The Chinese garden, with medicinal plants from China. I picked up a very interesting brochure about this garden and the plants in it.
After the gardens we made our way slowly back to the railway station. We decided then and there that our next visit to Leiden will be on a cool day, when the museums are open!
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