Leyden rediscovered

It is wonderful to discover new things in a town in and around which one has lived for over 55 years. And to see it has changed for the better.

Samuel de Zee's hofje

The alms-houses are still the same, as always havens of peace in a busy city, hidden behind unremarkable doors, but in the midst of summer, with nice temperatures and lots of rainy days, the hollyhocks and the roses look amazing, as do all the pot plants and the flowers planted in front of the old houses. There is an abundance of foliage and lush vegetation everywhere.

Along the new route

The Observatory

'Singelpad'

Especially the new path around Leyden ('Singelpad'), following the star shaped canals, was a pleasant surprise and is certainly an asset. I walked only part of that path, as I just happened upon it after visiting a museum, followed by lunch in the attractive Hortus cafe, and intending to visit an exhibition in the Pieterskerk as well.

Not very good photos because of the reflection of the spotlights

My first goal, the exhibition of Japanese prints of Ogata Gekkō and his contemporaries  in the Von Siebold Museum, was as always a joy. Such subtlety, such fine art work. I love that museum. It isn’t big, with some hundred prints by Ogata Gekkō and some 40 by his contemporaries, but any exhibition they organise is of outstanding quality.

Just some pictures on a sunny Saturday in Leyden

The photo exhibition of Leyden now and in the past, ‘the disappeared city’, was a surprise too. Seeing all those photos from the archives, I felt it is such a shame that so many characteristic canals and picturesque spots in the city have been filled in or demolished during the last century, even still in the sixties, to accommodate the easier flow of traffic through the city. Now views have changed, and one realizes that the city centre is not really the place for cars and motorized traffic, with the exception of public transport and taxis, and of course the cars of inhabitants. Part of Leyden was also destroyed irreparably during the second world war. But “modernization” without respect for history, has unfortunately taken its toll. However, nowadays the centre looks more attractive and livelier than ever.

Pieterskerk

The photo exhibition took place around the nave of the Pieterskerk. The nave had been transformed into a lounge café, with comfortable chairs and seats, tables, colourful hammocks and even a swing hanging from the very high roof of the nave. It was in fact a peaceful place, with respect for the church building, the two pipe organs, one very old and one rather recent, watching over us on both sides. Admiring as ever the beautiful main pipe organ, hanging as a big bird’s nest against the west wall of the church, I enjoyed a coffee before setting out for home again, intending to walk the rest of the new path along the periphery of Leyden soon.

The Latin School

Although the day had started out sunny and very warm, while enjoying my coffee we had had a downpour and everything had changed. I made it home through a slight drizzle, before the heavens opened again blessing the garden with a lot of water.