Eleven Cities Tour
A Dutch tradition that’s slowly fading from memory is the Elfstedentocht or Eleven Cities Tour. In winter when the canals are covered in ice, people took their skates and started very early in the morning to get from one city to ten others. All in one day! They started their tour in Leeuwarden. And so should you start your tour of the upper West part of the country.
Past and present
Leeuwarden is a city full of historic features dating back to a stylish past. One of the main reminders of those days is the Oldehove Tower, an imposing building that leans over more than any other tower in the country. Call it the tower of Pisa Dutch style if you like. Palaces and other monuments remind visitors to the city of the days that the famous Nassau family lived there. Leeuwarden is also a center for trade and industry, with many jobs available in all sectors possible. Of course it has a varied nightlife so there’s no need to get bored.
Famous things
Well-known buildings around town include the former chancellery Kanselarij, the church of St. Bonifatius, the Stadhouderlijk hof, which is the former residence of the town holders, the Waag (old trade centre of the city), and the leaning tower Oldehove. Tallest building in town is the so called Achmea building, (Achmea is on of the largest Dutch insurance companies) located near the railway station.
Piece of meat
Not too common, but very famous around here: the coutnry’s largest cattle market. Leeuwarden hosts this market and another big one is the (again largest of the country) flower market on Ascension Day.
Student central
Although the city has no scientific university, Leeuwarden has a number of respected universities of applied science (HBO in Dutch), such as the Van Hall Instituut (agricultural and life sciences), the Stenden University (economical and catering) and the Noordelijke Hogeschool Leeuwarden (economical, technical and arts). Several scientific dependencies are located in Leeuwarden, including the Wageningen University, Universiteit Twente and the Rijksuniversiteit Groningen. About 16,000 students, among them an increasing number of foreign students, study at technical schools. Besides higher education, the city is also home to two regional vocational schools.
Highlights
When you exit the train, go north and within no time you’ll be in the medieval centre of town. Leeuwarden's compact centre is surrounded by defensive canals. The highlights among the shops bars and restaurants include the Main church (95 Jacobijnerkerkhof), the Kanselarij (13 Turfmarkt), Waag (148 Nieuwestad, the leaning tower Oldehove (1 Oldehoofsterkerkhof) and the classicist City hall (36 Raadhuisplein).
Nightlife
Leeuwarden has a lot to offer when it comes to fun dining, drinking and all that’s good after dark. Because there are a lot of students, the bars are vibrant and fun. Food can be enjoyed is various amounts and sorts. Foreign cuisines can be French, Italian or Chinese, while also fish is very common. Again, thanks to the students, prizes are not that bad at all. Of course you can enjoy your three-course mail in an upper class like environment, but with not too much to spend you’ll still be able to have a great meal. And where there are students, there are lots of job possibilities! In basically any sector companies are hiring. Are you up for it?
Author Resource:
Unlike what many people think, Leeuwarden is not that strange to pick as a place to work. The city is fun and vibrant and there are lots of possibilities. Not just for students! Though it’s good they are there, because nightlife and dinner is cheap in town. Give the job offers or vactures in Leeuwarden a go!
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