One of the oldest towns in the Netherlands
The old town is the prettiest part of Leiden (isn't it always?), but I've included pictures of the less picturesque, just so you'll get a complete view.
Location of Leiden within The Netherlands

I've also listed Amsterdam, because most people know that city exists, and Groningen, because that's where I lived most of my life.
History of Leiden City
One of the oldest cities in Europe
1575 - It got its university, the first in The Netherlands.
17th century - After Amsterdam Leiden was the largest city in 'De Lage Landen' (The low ountries, roughly what's now called 'The Netherlands) mainly due to its textile-industry.
Lovely parks & greenery
Close to the centre - favorite place to study in the shade

My grandmother's house

My 'new' appartment (from 1959) - actually only a kilometer from my grandmother's house
Leiden University
One of the oldest universities in the world
Other famous scientists who worked at Leiden are:
Albert Einstein, Paul Ehrenfest and Christiaan Snouck Hurgronje.
Leiden University is pretty famous abroad, but within the Netherlands it is usually seen as just another university. The general universities in The Netherlands (Utrecht, Groningen, Amsterdam, Leiden) are all funded in the same way: by the government. Enrollment is based on the same criteria.
For some subjects Leiden really is the best (or the only) option. For instance the Leiden language department has courses on languages like Sanskrit, Indo-European Languages, Tamil and more. These languages can't be studied anywhere else in The Netherlands. But Utrecht has a Celtic languages program that's doing quite well and is unique world wide.
I'm studying world religion myself, and I do feel that Leiden program is the best: very balanced and it offers quite decent specialty options.
Still, if one is interested in studying medicine, Dutch law, European law, math, physics or psychology (to name just a few important subjects) - Leiden may not be the best choice. These subjects are taught in many Dutch universities. The way the subjects are taught can differ a lot, and Leiden does not have a reputation for having the best teachers, though personally I've had some great teachers.
All in all, if you are considering studying in The Netherlands, you may want to look beyond Leiden. Whether Leiden is the best choice really depends more on the subject you want to study than on its historic reputation.
Poetry in town
Poems in many languages
Leidens Ontzet - a Leiden specific holliday
After the liberation of the town on Oktober 3rd 1575, the city was rewarded for its stance against the Spanish - with a university gifted by Willem of Orange.
Oktober 3rd has been a local holiday ever since.

Old town view - with one of the many bridges
Weather now in Leiden
Leiden is very near The Hague, which is what this widget shows.
Current weather conditions in The Hague, Netherlands
Local Pollen Reports

Canal view
More water in Leiden - canals

Lovely canal view

Another bridge, more modern, but on the same canal

Birds making a family in the canal
Leiden map
Map of Leiden for when you go there (on actual paper, strong paper)
Shopping Center
Go check out the Breestraat and the Haarlemmerstraat.
My favorite bookstore is AtLeest at Kort Rapenburg. He has books on all kinds of niche subjects like eastern religion, anthropology, non-european languages, history of countries all over the world -etc. His collection is purely English language, though you would not know that from the website.
Market on wednesday and Saturday
Bakeries
The Pilgrims - a touch of American History
Some of them stayed in Amsterdam, and others went to live in the second largest city of the time: Leiden.
From 1620 on some of these immigrants moved on to America to escape the war with Spain which was coming on again after 12 years of cease fire. The famous boats they went on were the Mayflower (1620), Fortune (1621), Anne and Little James (1623) and the second Mayflower (1629).
Pilgrim Archives
Hofjes - communal living & gardens
Leiden has 35 hofjes still. These are usually open to the public in a limited sense. That is: one can't visit the houses themselves, since there will be people living there (at the center of town these are coveted places to live, even if a bit small by today's standards). But the garden and any communal places left are often open.
More about hofjes in the Netherlands
University books from Leiden / about Leiden
Pictures of the town
People's impressions of Leiden on Flickr
Population of Leiden
Thanks to the statistics of the Gemeente Leiden
Guestbook / Gastenboek
Treasures-By-Brenda wrote...
Thanks, Katinka, I've been wondering where you live. Thanks for introducing me to Groningen! I suppose we should all do pages like this!
Blessed By Brenda
dc64 wrote...
Your grandmother's house is charming, and the habit of inscribing poetry on the building walls is one I wish many more places would adopt! How beautiful.
Clairejr wrote...
I was in Leiden about 12 years ago and I fell in love with the city. It's really beautiful and so interesting. I love the way the river runs through the city. - Claire
EuroSquid wrote...
What a cool lens! I lived in Leiden for a while and loved that little city. You should have mentioned the nice Hoofjas, those little courtyards where there were apartments built for widows many years ago. I believe that Leiden has the most of them of all cities in The Netherlands.
Also, did you know that Leidseplein, the biggest square in Amsterdam is named for Leiden? The reason is that there is (or used to be?) a canal that stretched from there to Leiden.
Also nearby Keukenhof and the botanical gardens of Leiden are wondeful tourist attractions.
Great work on a wondeful 5* Lens!!
RinchenChodron wrote...
You've done an excellent job. Fun to know more about you and the pretty place where you live! Five Stars
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