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Picture-perfect canals lined with somber-colored, skinny homes, grey––however romantic altogether––winter skies, and stroopwafels straight from the market:
It’s straightforward to see how Amsterdam would nonetheless rank excessive on everybody’s Europe bucket record regardless of the intense crowding.
Something most vacationers fail to understand, nevertheless, is that, as stunning as it might be, the capital of the Netherlands is just not its solely below-sea-level, artifical marvel: there are numerous smaller cities precisely like Amsterdam which are but to turn out to be full-fledged vacationer playgrounds.
Take a quaint, laid-back Leiden as an example: when positioned alongside Amsterdam, you might barely inform a distinction between them two…
Were it not for the previous’s near-complete absence of crowds and client costs 20% cheaper.
Discover Leiden, One Of The Hidden Cultural Hotspots Of The Netherlands
A brief 24-minute prepare experience from Amsterdam, Leiden is an unsung cultural capital dwelling to one of many largest historic facilities within the Netherlands, an enormous focus of heritage buildings, and the nation’s oldest college, based in 1575.
Anonymous as it might be amongst vacationers flocking to Amsterdam merely for its aesthetics, Leiden was as soon as one of the necessary and wealthiest cities within the Netherlands.
With its thriving academia and avant-gardism, it led the nation into its Seventeenth-century Golden Age.
It is the birthplace of none apart from Rembrandt, the long-lasting Dutch painter and printmaker––his reminiscence is brilliantly stored alive on the Young Rembrandt Studio––and Leiden’s Hortus Botanicus is acknowledged as being one of many first botanical gardens ever designed on the planet.
Just Like Amsterdam, Except Smaller And Less Chaotic
Similarly to Amsterdam, the medieval core is minimize by way of with navigable waterways, which run alongside picture-perfect Northern Mannerist homes and the occasional historic windmill, together with Molen De Vale, now housing a historical past museum.
Come rain or come shine, you will discover locals picnicking in Burcht van Leiden, an city park together with the stays of an previous citadel––on a wet day, nevertheless, you are higher off shopping by way of the huge assortment of artifacts at Rijksmuseum Boerhaave, some relationship again to the sixteenth century.
For the History buffs like us, the museum haul continues within the National Museum of Antiquities, with Egyptian, Greek and Roman collections, although for those who’re right here for the type of tradition that makes a cheerful tummy, Bistro Noroc is all of the Dutch meals fest you want.
Incredible Food At Affordable Prices
A laid-back bistro within the coronary heart of city with tables spilling out onto a slender medieval passageway, it’s broadly identified for its scrumptious seafood and occasional, and inexpensive costs––for those who’re on a finances, you possibly can eat right here for below $25.
Other must-tries embrace Paco Ciao, particularly their Eggs Benedict salmon and fluffy Dutch pancakes, with last payments below $28, veggie-friendly The Bishop––undoubtedly go for the shock 5-course menu!––and a ravishing Café Visscher.
An attraction of Leiden in its personal proper, this cozy eatery only some steps from the primary prepare station is a classic fever dream that is made a reputation for itself because the trendiest no-frills brunch spot on the town (if we could add, their shrimps on toast tastes heavenly).
How Much Cheaper Is Leiden?
When it involves costs, Leiden may be as much as 20.6% cheaper to go to than Amsterdam, in response to Numbeo, with decrease costs noticed for meals, lodging and vacationer points of interest.
On common, a meal in a reasonable restaurant will set you again by $17.94, versus the capital’s $21.75, whereas an in a single day in a resort prices on common $169––in the meantime, in Amsterdam, you need to put aside $223 per evening.
That’s solely an estimate: IntercityHotel Leiden has rooms for under $106 an evening this season, and the centrally-located Ibis Leiden is a good cheaper $100.
Guided canal cruises value solely $13.58 to guide, and the worth for museum tickets ranges between $5.44 and $13.
Leiden is extremely cultural, cheaper than your common Dutch vacation spot, and most significantly, it has far smaller, if any crowds in any respect!
Flying to the Netherlands quickly? Don’t overlook to learn additional on the nation to find extra hidden gems that by no means make it to the mainstream journey brochures here.
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This article initially appeared on TravelOffPath.com
Opinions expressed listed below are the writer’s alone, not these of any financial institution, bank card issuer, resort, airline, or different entity. This content material has not been reviewed, accredited or in any other case endorsed by any of the entities included inside the publish.
