Leiden Off The Beaten Path

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While the old catholic cemetary next to the Zijlpoort is still in use, the Groenesteeg cemetary is no longer. It is now popular with amateur painters and photographers but is also a lovely quiet place to stroll around. The cemetary dates from 1827 and was in use until 1975. In 1993 the old cemetary was restored to it's present state.

The place is especially pretty in spring when all the flowers are in bloom, but as you can see from the pictures, it's worth a visit any other time of year, too!
Groenesteeg cemetary website (Never mind if you can't read Dutch - just click on the last 4 links to go the the photoalbums!)

Opening hours are 9:00 - 16:00 hrs november-march and 9:00 - 17:00 april-october.
The pretty aula is open every first sunday of the month from april-october from 13:00 - 16:00 hours. There will be someone present who can provide more information about the cemetary and maybe even a guided tour, if you like.
Entrance is free!

How to reach it:
Halfway down the Hooigracht is the Groenesteeg (it's the alley with the restaurant 'De Hooikist' on the corner). Just follow the Groenesteeg right down until the end - keep walking! Through the big iron gates and you're there.

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You will enjoy a beautiful view from the topfloor of the department store V&D ( Vroom en Dreesman) in the centre, you will find there a restaurant 'La Place' with fresh food ( friendly priced, self service) and enjoy the beautiful panorama. In summer you can even sit outside!
Enjoy the canals , Koornbrug , historic buildings etc.

Hij maakte de mens open
Hij maakte de vogel open
Vergeleek en zag dat het niet kon

En toch; tule, riet, papier, taf,
gaas, bombazijn dat door zijn vingers glijdt
zijn vingers die een schaduw
laten vliegen op de muur

Most of you probably know that Rembrandt was born in Leiden. However, did you know that his birth home was knocked down and built over ages ago and that this commemorative plaque isn't even in that location?

Oops!

Public library that is founded in the 17th century out of a legacy. The interior and the book collection haven't much changed since that time but unfortunately it is not easy to see it. Entrance is only arranged via the university and then even for groups and on appointment only.

And unfortunately standing on your toes and stare through the windows doesn't help much.. yes you can look inside (getting a few strange stares from fellow city-dwellers) but there isn't much to see on the ground floor...

In many places in Leiden you can see a poem painted on the walls of houses. The one in the picture for instance is painted on a house behind the St Pieters Church. But there are many many more to see.

Every city in The Netherlands seems to have a local Weighing House. This is also the case in Leiden. It was built in 1657 by Pieter Post. Behind it is the butter hall.

Nowadays the weighing house is used as an exhibition room for contemporary art.

By William Carlos Williams (1883-1965)

RIPOSTE
Love is like water or the air
my townspeople
it cleanses and dissipates evil gases
it is like poetry, too
and for the same reasons.

Love is so precious
my townspeople
that if I were you I would
have it under lock and key-
like the air or the Atlantic
or like poetry!

Not sure where I found this one. Somewhere between Pieterskerk and Breestraat.