Carly in the Green Heart

We can hardly believe that we’ve been in Leiden for over a month, and so far we have been pleasantly surprised.  Although Leiden is much smaller than Amsterdam and The Hague, it’s bustling with activity.

Two days after arriving we purchased our stereotypical Dutch bikes.  They’ve definitely had some use, but they have gears, brakes, and best of all – a cuff lock (it’s a lock attached to the back wheel and immobilizes the bike with one quick lever push).

We’ve taken our new bikes on many adventures.  Holland’s fantastic cycling network is a cyclist’s dream.  Check out this map and you’ll see what we mean.  So far our cycling adventures have taken us through the dunes, to three different beaches, and The Green Heart.

Hooglandse Kirk - across the street from us

The other aspect of Leiden which we love is all the food options.  Dutch multiculturalism flourishes here with fantastic cheap food.  We’re determined to try it all.  So far our favorite joints in Leiden are:

• Jacketz – (baked potatoes with fancy toppings)
• Canteris – (pitas, doner, and fries)
• Maoz – (fantastic falafel – get it with hummus and aubergine)
• Anywhere that serves Turkish Pizza (you must try it if you ever visit Holland)
• Asia 2 Go (Vietnamese and other Asian dishes)
• Eazie (noodle & rice bowls)
• New York Pizza (fast delivery & yummy)

If you visit Leiden, you’ll realize that most items on our list are street food / fast food.  We both feel that this is where you get the best value, and usually the best tasting food anyway.  We usually take advantage of the Saturday market when we want a more elaborate dinner.  The fresh veggies, fish, and cheese are wonderful.  Plus, it’s a great way for us to practice a little Dutch.

Lakenfeest

We have one more month in Leiden, and will try to keep up with the blog.  After that we’re off to Amsterdam which will be a whole new experience.

Our tips:
- There is more to Holland than Amsterdam.  If you like biking, rent a bike from a train station and explore some of the other Dutch cities.
- Trust us… try some Turkish pizza.
- Don’t expect a waiter to check in on you like a restaurant back home.   It’s protocol to give them a polite wave to signal that you’d like something.