Rembrandt Birth House, Leiden
Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn was born in Leiden in 1606. His father was Harmen Gerritszoon van Rijn, a miller. Neeltgen Willemsdochter, daughter of a baker, was his mother. Rembrandt was their eighth and last born child. There were actually ten children, but two died in infancy, a common occurrence in those days.
Stand on the Rembrandt Bridge. The Rhine River flows beneath your feet. The view from here includes a windmill like the one Rembrandt's father operated. To the east are the streets of Galgenwater (Gallow Waters). There was a gallows here and hangings were not infrequent.
Leave the bridge. Walk south. Enter the Weddesteeg. Proceed to number 27. Here was Rembrandt born. The house is gone. Well, there is a house here, but it's not the one our man was born in. That was demolished years ago. But wait. There's a plaque over the front door. It reads, "Here was born on the 15th of July 1606 REMBRANDT VAN RIJN."
That's all there is to see here. Walk west. You come to Rembrandt Park. This is the likely location of Windmill de Rijn, Rembrandt's father's establishment. It too, is gone. In time Rembrandt moved to Amsterdam. He was enormously successful but not wise with money. He died in penury. His birth house is gone, his grave unmarked.
Stand on the Rembrandt Bridge. The Rhine River flows beneath your feet. The view from here includes a windmill like the one Rembrandt's father operated. To the east are the streets of Galgenwater (Gallow Waters). There was a gallows here and hangings were not infrequent.
Leave the bridge. Walk south. Enter the Weddesteeg. Proceed to number 27. Here was Rembrandt born. The house is gone. Well, there is a house here, but it's not the one our man was born in. That was demolished years ago. But wait. There's a plaque over the front door. It reads, "Here was born on the 15th of July 1606 REMBRANDT VAN RIJN."
That's all there is to see here. Walk west. You come to Rembrandt Park. This is the likely location of Windmill de Rijn, Rembrandt's father's establishment. It too, is gone. In time Rembrandt moved to Amsterdam. He was enormously successful but not wise with money. He died in penury. His birth house is gone, his grave unmarked.
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Rembrandt Birth House on Map
Sight Name: Rembrandt Birth House
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.
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
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