Holiday apartment in Leeuwarden – culture, history and water
Leeuwarden combines a multifaceted urban history with museums, historic buildings and varied landscapes in the surrounding area. The historic centre was created in 1435 by merging the three terp settlements of Oldehove, Nijehove and Hoek; in the same year, the city was granted city rights. From 1584 to 1747, Leeuwarden was the court city of Friesland.
Culture
A central cultural venue is the Fries Museum. It is located in the centre of Leeuwarden, a five-minute walk from the train and bus station. Leeuwarden Centraal railway station can be reached on foot from the city centre, while the bus station is located directly next to it. With more than 200,000 objects from over 300 owners, the Fries Museum manages the largest regional collection in the Netherlands. At the Fries Verzetsmuseum, which is located in the Fries Museum, personal stories are used to convey how people in Friesland experienced the Second World War.
The Princessehof National Museum of Ceramics combines ceramics with a remarkable biography: the graphic artist M.C. Escher was born in 1898 in the same building that now houses the museum. Workshops, guided tours and lectures are offered there. A guided city tour through Leeuwarden takes visitors through the historic city centre, past courtyards and the palace district. The tour also includes Mata Hari’s former home and M.C. Escher’s birthplace.
History
The Blokhuispoort is a former prison in Leeuwarden, built in 1593. Today, the building is multifunctional and includes cultural and creative spaces, among other facilities. Blokhuispoort also offers bookable guided tours about the history of the former prison, including stories about notorious prisoners and escapes.
The Grote of Jacobijnerkerk is Leeuwarden’s oldest and architecturally most significant church. Its organ was built by Christiaan Muller between 1724 and 1727 and has 38 stops. The pulpit, decorated with wood carvings, dates from the third quarter of the 17th century. Another prominent building is the Oldehove, which has stood in Leeuwarden since 1529 and can be visited inside and out. Visitors can climb the 183 steps and enjoy views over Leeuwarden and the surrounding area. The Oldehove lift goes up to the first floor.
Museums
The Fries Landbouwmuseum presents 2,000 years of Frisian agricultural history. It is housed in a listed historic farmhouse south of Leeuwarden, at the transition between the city and the countryside. The museum includes a permanent exhibition and various temporary exhibitions shown throughout the year. The Natuurmuseum Fryslân in Leeuwarden is an interactive family museum spread over four floors, covering animals and plants and featuring experiments and games.
The Leeuwarden Visitor Center sells tickets for museums, boat rentals and city tours. This provides tickets and booking options for various cultural and active pursuits in one place.
Nature and water
The Prinsentuin was created in 1648 as a park or pleasure garden on the orders of Prince Willem Frederik of Nassau and has been freely accessible since 1795. During the summer months, the Prinsentuinconcerten take place there on Sunday afternoons. At Stadsstrand Leeuwarden, visitors can go stand-up paddleboarding and canoeing; on warm days, the place also invites people to relax with a drink.
Buuten is the rural outskirts of Leeuwarden. It can be reached by bicycle within fifteen minutes and offers opportunities for sports, relaxation, boating and camping. Rengerspark is home to trees that are more than 100 years old. There is also a duck pond, benches, bridges and weeping willows. Nearby, the Grote Wielen nature area offers opportunities for walking, mooring a boat, sailing, windsurfing and swimming, as well as other sporting activities.
Getting around
The 47.3-kilometre route “Discover lively Leeuwarden and the peaceful countryside” combines historic buildings and cultural attractions in Leeuwarden with rural villages and expansive views.
From Leeuwarden, Ameland can be reached by bus to Holwert and then by ferry; the crossing takes approximately 45 minutes.
For further regional orientation: Leeuwarden, Wirdum, Goutum, Snakkerburen.
For the higher-level travel overview: Friesland.
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