Rapenburg Canal, Leiden
The finest walk in Leiden may just be a stroll along the Rapenburg Canal. Johan Polyander van Kerckhoven, a 17th-century professor of Theology at Leiden University, claimed, "of all Leiden's streets and canals, Rapenburg is the most beautiful." He has never been proved wrong. Many others feel the same way.
The Rapenburg Canal was excavated in the 14th century to be part of the defenses of south Leiden. It begins at the Old Rhine. The canal then makes a crescent through the town back to the New Rhine. In a two-mile walk covering both sides of the canal, one may see 120 well-preserved 17th and 18th-century buildings.
The Siebold House (Siebolddhuis) was the home of Philip Franz von Siebold, a German physician, botanist, and traveler. It is now a museum of Japanese culture. The 17th-century Bibliotheca Thysiana houses the 2,500 books of scholar and respected teacher Johannes Thysius. The National Museum of Antiquities sits by the canal, founded by William I in 1818. The Academy Building of Leiden University dates from 1516.
Walking along the Rapenburg, one sees a strange gap in the row of buildings. The gap is Van der Werf Park. It was formed in 1807 by an explosion on a ship bound from Haarlem to Delft. The ship had a cargo of 37,000 pounds of gunpowder. Today, after all the mayhem, one may relax in the park and enjoy the most beautiful canal in Leiden.
The Rapenburg Canal was excavated in the 14th century to be part of the defenses of south Leiden. It begins at the Old Rhine. The canal then makes a crescent through the town back to the New Rhine. In a two-mile walk covering both sides of the canal, one may see 120 well-preserved 17th and 18th-century buildings.
The Siebold House (Siebolddhuis) was the home of Philip Franz von Siebold, a German physician, botanist, and traveler. It is now a museum of Japanese culture. The 17th-century Bibliotheca Thysiana houses the 2,500 books of scholar and respected teacher Johannes Thysius. The National Museum of Antiquities sits by the canal, founded by William I in 1818. The Academy Building of Leiden University dates from 1516.
Walking along the Rapenburg, one sees a strange gap in the row of buildings. The gap is Van der Werf Park. It was formed in 1807 by an explosion on a ship bound from Haarlem to Delft. The ship had a cargo of 37,000 pounds of gunpowder. Today, after all the mayhem, one may relax in the park and enjoy the most beautiful canal in Leiden.
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Rapenburg Canal on Map
Sight Name: Rapenburg Canal
Sight Location: Leiden, Netherlands (See walking tours in Leiden)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Sight Location: Leiden, Netherlands (See walking tours in Leiden)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:
Walking Tours in Leiden, Netherlands
Create Your Own Walk in Leiden
Creating your own self-guided walk in Leiden is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
In the Footsteps of Young Rembrandt
Once a thriving hub for trade and textile manufacturing, and a home to Holland's oldest university, Leiden also made history as the birthplace of Rembrandt van Rijn, one of the greatest visual artists of the mankind, renowned for his ingenious use of light and shadow, and life-like portraits. The Golden Age of the Netherlands can still be felt in Leiden, especially if you follow in the... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.2 Km or 0.7 Miles
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 1.2 Km or 0.7 Miles
Leiden Introduction Walking Tour
In the year 860, at the confluence of the Old Rhine and the New Rhine, there was a settlement called "Leithon." This word referred to a canalized river. The name is appropriate. Leiden from its beginnings was a city of canals.
In 1060 Alewin I, landlord of Leiden, built his fortified keep, the "Burcht" ("Fort"). The village of Leiden huddled around the fortified... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.2 Km or 1.4 Miles
In 1060 Alewin I, landlord of Leiden, built his fortified keep, the "Burcht" ("Fort"). The village of Leiden huddled around the fortified... view more
Tour Duration: 1 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.2 Km or 1.4 Miles