We went to Leiden yesterday to put Oma Joke on the train. Before we did that we went to have a look around. Found a parking place along one of the many canals and went for a walk. The shops are amazing, so many things to buy. There was even one whole shop with sweets and lollies ;o)
Kes saw a pigeon walking on the footpath (one of the many millions that are here in Holland but obviously her first) and said :'Mum, quick take a photo of that nice birdie!'

Found the old city castle or ‘burcht' in the middle of town which dates back to the 12th century.We climbed on the walls for a great view over the city.
Legend has it that the, now dry, well inside the castle was very deep and that it recieved its water from the North Sea; some 8 kilometers away, due to the fact that a herring was once caught in the well! Kes and Joren have a good look around in the well, it is now dried up, but there are no signs of herrings now..

Later that day we went to a water-playground with many cool things like a flying fox over water, a large swing, waterworks in the sandpit, a moving bridge.

Some info on Leiden, LYD uhn, also spelled Leyden (pop. 114,892; met. area pop. 194,051), lies 22 miles (35 kilometers) southwest of Amsterdam on the Rhine River. It lies 3.8 feet (116 centimeters) below sea level. The city is a center of printing and light industry. Leiden is noted for its many museums. William of Orange founded the Netherlands' first university in Leiden in 1575 to reward the citizens for their heroic defense against a siege by the Spaniards in 1574. Leiden was the home of about 40 of the Pilgrims who sailed to America on the Mayflower in 1620.


More info on the castle:
Leiden Castle is a good example of a shell keep and, in its present form, dates back to the 12th century.

The motte (an artificial hill) was constructed in the 11th century and an wooden fortification was built on top of it. Around 1150 this wooden fortification was replaced by the present stone castle. Originally a keep would have stood against the inside of the castle walls.

Archeological excavations showed that Leiden Castle was probably never used for permanent habitation and only served as a refuge for the people of Leiden and their belongings in times of peril. In 1203 and again in 1204 the castle was sieged and suffered considerable damage. As the town of Leiden grew around the castle it lost its military function in the beginning of the 14th century.

In 1651 the castle was bought by the town council of Leiden.

The castle was built on a strategic spot; in a bend of the Old Rhine river. Nowadays that river is reduced to a canal through the city of Leiden and can't be seen from the castle anymore due to all the 18th century buildings that surround the motte.

It consists of a tuff and brick circular wall with ramparts resting on arches. The carvings surrounding the gate are a decorative addition from the 18th century.