Leiden

central train station 

We ended the day in Leiden, a university city since 1525.  The first thing we did in Leiden was eat another Dutch speciality: raw herring with raw onions and pickles.  We walked out of the train station and one of the fish carts greeted us.  My friend was insistent: you will eat this, think of it as Dutch sushi.  I was amazed at just how pretty the fish was in the food truck-- they were selling some nice, quality fish. Then I was presented with the raw herring...  

E getting my Dutch speciality

 ...and I ate it.  It was delicious!  An interesting combination with the onions and pickles, but it works.

Dutch Sushi

We then moseyed along the cobblestone streets and over the canals of Leiden.  We went past the place where Rembrandt was born-- his house isn't there, but someone else's house is.  We walked to the university and into one of the main buildings where a professor was giving a final lecture and staff were preparing for a reception.  

the main canal 

a building built in 1612

a bicyclist going over the small drawbridge

a plaque in the wall

a statue of Rembrandt

Leiden University's main gates

 And we walked into the garden of Leiden, founded by Carolus Clusius, one of the most influential botanist in the 16th century, maybe the world, and responsible for cultivating the tulip. His work in breaking the bulbs and developing different types of tulips helped create the famous Tulip Bubble in the 1630s.  It is a fascinating history.

Clusius garden, from 1593

as the street lights pop on

We ended the day at a cafe across from the town hall, BurgerZaken, where I had yet another Dutch speciality, Bitterbollen.  It looks like hush puppies, but inside is bits of meat and gravy.  You dip the balls in mustard-- trying not to burn you mouth like I did.   We stayed at the cafe for a while, enjoying the Mucha-like ladies on the wall and the shoppers walking by.  December 5th-- St Nicholas Day-- is quickly approaching!

Leiden's town hall

a needed break from the cold!

bitterbollen!