Dutch Tulips - Leiden  

Why should you explore Leiden? For one thing it has a tremendous history the first tulips were brought to Leiden four hundred years ago and the industry has now become a symbol of the Netherlands. The recognition is well deserved, as the Dutch continue to create such intricate combinations and new variations every year. Another tremendous history attributed to Leiden is the former protestant refuge given to persecuted Protestants. They settled in Leiden before sailing to America from Plymouth in England. The celebration at Keukenhof this year is the 400 year connection between Holland and the former ‘New Amsterdam’, later to become New York.

 

The town grew at the foot of a fortified castle, de Burcht, erected in the 9^th century on a mound. Its prosperity grew because of its location on the Oude Rijn, which was then the main branch of the river, but has now changed course towards Rotterdam. The castle is situated in the centre of the town and the cafe in the monumental Fontein room is one of the busiest locations in Leiden. The garden room is a well known venue for the jazz and classic concerts, the latter performed mostly on the last Sunday of the month.  

The 14th century was the towns’ earliest period of prosperity when it was a centre for cloth weaving visit the Lakenhal Museum, also features 17^th century artists including Rembrandt. By 1500, Leiden’s impressive churches were supported by a population of some 10,000 persons, about the same number as Amsterdam and Haarlem.

Leiden became a refuge in the 16^th and 17^th century to numerous Flemish and French as well as English Protestants, who fled their own countries because of religious persecution. In 1609 a hundred or so English protestant’s arrived via Amsterdam, led by their spiritual leader John Robinson (1575-1625). Former farmers, they had to adapt themselves to various new handicrafts trades. A printing press published religious works which were exported to England and Scotland.

 

When their stay in Holland became difficult, the Puritans decided to leave Leiden and go to America. Sailing from Delftshaven on the Speedwell they reached England and embarked on the Mayflower in Plymouth. The 102 emigrants of which 41 were Puritans or Pilgrim Fathers, landed in December 1620 on the south-east coast of present day Boston and founded Plymouth Colony, the first settlement established in New England. Check the Pilgrims Archive museum at Vliet 43, www.pilgrimarchives.nl