About Leeuwarden
Leeuwarden is the capital of the Dutch province Friesland. Located in the northwest of the Netherlands, just 1.5 hours drive from Amsterdam. It’s one of the Frisian ‘Elfsteden’ (historical eleven towns). A city with an old historic city centre that has all the characteristics of a typical Dutch city with canals, bridges, a weigh house and many houses from the 17th century (the Dutch golden age).
It’s the birthplace of graphic artist M.C. Escher, double spy Mata Hari, Rembrandt’s wife Saskia van Uylenburgh and it’s the former residence of the Nassau family, the ancestors of the current Dutch king.
With a population of 96.000 it’s big enough to call itself a city, but it mostly feels like a village. Everything is at walking distance. Still, there is enough happening in this city and there is always something to do. Two Universities of Applied Sciences (NHL Stenden and Van Hall Larenstein) as well as Campus Fryslân supply the city with a lively input of young people.
The city centre of Leeuwarden breathes history. Its rich and varied past is best exhibited by the beautiful historic buildings, which include two palaces: the Stadhouderlijk Hof and the Princessehof. The Nieuwestad, which runs through the city centre, is the main waterway for the city, and it has a number of pretty, winding streets leading off it. Many of the shops and boutiques in the centre are behind beautiful restored facades, so you can shop and soak up history at the same time!
https://www.visitleeuwarden.com/en/plan/leeuwarden-visitor-center