Different Dutch cities are preferred by expats for various reasons. Some of us favor Amsterdam, the bustling, nonstop tourist destination. We don’t understand why some expats enjoy Amsterdam as much as they do; other expatriates prefer Leiden.
Leiden, in my opinion, is a better option than Amsterdam, despite the opinion of some that Amsterdam is always a good notion. I want to tell you why.
1. De Burcht
The fort looks great and is quite romantic, but it also has a fascinating history. The fort was built as far back as the eleventh century. While the Burcht was being pillaged, the Vikings were still plundering Europe at the time.
The female ruler of Holland, Countess Ada van Holland, lived at the fort in the eleventh century. She didn’t stay at the Burch, though, for very long before her uncle planned to kidnap and jail her. She afterwards passed away.
Today, both visitors and Dutch people must visit De Burcht. The fort is a great location for strolls, meeting new people, and taking pictures. You can also take pleasure in the clean air and the breathtaking view of Leiden.
2. Hortus Botanicus
The botanical garden, Hortus Botanicus, is the second factor and unquestionably a must-see.
I initially assumed it to be a typical botanical garden. Now I see how stunning it is. The garden is the oldest in the entire country of the Netherlands. The separated sections of Hortus Botanicus, the oldest of which dates from the 16th century and the other from the 20th, make it unique.
The garden was initially developed to aid Leiden University’s medical students. With time, various botanists added to its diversity with their increased expertise and exotic plants.
Every plant is different and has a distinct tale that many of us are unaware of. I found not only a ton of new plants but also lots of garden-loving birds. A wonderful location to go on lazy Sundays!
3. Leidse Hout Park
The third good thing about Leiden is this public park. On the boundary of Leiden and Oegstgeest, there is a place called Leidse Hout that is somewhat of a woodland.
My favorite park in Leiden is Leidse Hout. According to the tale, it was founded in the midst of the 1930s Great Depression. The park was planned as a government initiative with the goal of giving Leiden residents work. Today, it generally offers wonderful moments throughout the year.
The park is loved for a variety of reasons. I’m Swedish, so maybe that’s one of the reasons. I’m used to living in a place with lots of natural beauty and few people. I went to Leidse Hout to unwind and breathe in the lower carbon dioxide levels. It’s a great park for jogging or shooting pictures like the ones shown above.
I prefer to have a coffee at the nearby tiny Teahouse after hour-long treks. I also have a fantastic view of the deer park from where I’m seated. Around are usually others around to interact with, and everyone is nice.
4. Naturalis
And last but not least, the Leiden Naturalis Museum. If you’ve heard of this museum, it’s probably because it is home to the only T-Rex in Europe.
A whopping 37 million different specimens can be found in the museum! This is among the key factors in why so many people decided to go there.
Naturalis has a lot of intriguing aspects, but the star of the show is the recently discovered Tyrannosaurus Rex skeleton.
In Montana, America, a Dutch group discovered a T-rex skeleton in 2013. And after a complex crowdsourcing campaign, the money was secured to transport it to Leiden. Trix is a fitting name for this female T-rex. Trix, who was 13 meters tall and weighed 5000 kilograms, died at the age of 30. The mass per meter is approximately 385 kg.
Trix lived approximately 66 million years ago, which seems like a very long time ago.
So that’s why a trip to Leiden is usually a good idea. And I didn’t even get to mention the delicious Saturday market or the three parties in October!
