Leiden Local Customs

Leidseplein is an adorable little coffeeshop. It's located in the corner of a really cute side street, near the Pieterskerk. Looks like a place where locals hang out and as most of Leiden, it isn't very touristy. There's a small bar where you can sit and there are also tables and booths. The staff is friendly and helpful and you could probably spend hours in here!

The second or third of October is a festival in Leiden. Wonderful experience, all the bars cover the sky between the houses, on the usually pretty narrow streets. And everyone is out drinking and dancing on the streets. Wonderful experience

Raw Herring... that is one of the Dutch mysteries that is hard for me to understand.

I have lived in the Netherlands for almost 5 years now and it still gives me the goosebumps to see someone push a raw fish down the throat.

If you are in Leiden on a Saturday you must walk down to the end of the market and at least look at people while they perform this ritual. If you are really brave, you can try it yourself. You can start by eating the version on bread.

There is also often a stand in front of the station that sells it.

One of the best things about visiting the Netherlands is that you can get warm Stroepwaffels at the local markets.

Yum......

Stay on the paths! There are bushes alongside the path with nasty thorns....;-).This is the other tile I have hanging on my wall.

As you can see, it's nice just to walk around in leiden. But hey, i'm probably biased. The view on the
canal is from my apartment.

Click on the pic to enlarge.