Leiden is a city that with its buildings and appearance represents the most popular ideas of the Netherlands. There are canals, windmills and a lot of flowers, in the spring mainly tulips, which bloom in city parks and squares. There is also the oldest of Dutch universities founded in the second half of the 16th century.
Leiden was founded as a small defensive stronghold on the New and Old Rhine rivers in the 11th century, and received city rights in 1266. From the beginning of its existence it was associated with trade, which flourished in the 16th and 16th centuries. At that time, there lived about 100,000 people. Today, the most important monument of the city is the Burcht fortress located on the site of the original castle. Within the Old Town you can also see the Gothic Hooglandse church, sea gates, House of Libra and numerous houses with picturesque internal courtyards, which in the past were built with cells and outbuildings, and today houses restaurants, cafes and shops.
However, what particularly attracts tourists in Leiden are the canals and the windmills standing above them. Some of them, like De Valk, are 300 years old. Some are currently used for cultural purposes, and the said De Valk is the seat of the museum.
Leiden is also a city of science and culture. At various points in the city there are faculties of the university, where the largest Dutch scholars and members of the royal family studied. At the same time, it is Rembrandt's hometown, from which the artist left, however, in Amsterdam in his youth, where his career flourished. You can visit the Stedelijk Museum De Lakenhal, which presents the works of the greatest Dutch masters.
