Tour of Leeuwarden | Section 0 – Preamble
Before setting off on the trail inspired by the ‘tour of all tours’, first you spend a day exploring Leeuwarden, Friesland's capital city. Here you can start to get a feel for Friesland, learn a few words of the local language and visit the most important museums in the province.
As you wander through the centre of Leeuwarden, you will notice that some streets run uphill. This is because, back in 1435, Leeuwarden was formed from the merger of three historical municipalities built on dwelling mounds or ‘terps’.
This preamble to the trail zig-zags through the old city centre and some of the outskirts. Not all of the trail junctions are marked and in the bustle of the city you may find it difficult to spot the red and yellow markings. But then getting lost is part of the adventure!
But…
Before setting off on the trail inspired by the ‘tour of all tours’, first you spend a day exploring Leeuwarden, Friesland's capital city. Here you can start to get a feel for Friesland, learn a few words of the local language and visit the most important museums in the province.
As you wander through the centre of Leeuwarden, you will notice that some streets run uphill. This is because, back in 1435, Leeuwarden was formed from the merger of three historical municipalities built on dwelling mounds or ‘terps’.
This preamble to the trail zig-zags through the old city centre and some of the outskirts. Not all of the trail junctions are marked and in the bustle of the city you may find it difficult to spot the red and yellow markings. But then getting lost is part of the adventure!
But do make sure you get to see the highlights of this city that was once the royal capital. Such as the leaning Oldehove tower, the Us Heit statue of Stadtholder William Louis of Nassau-Dillenburg in front of Stadhouderlijk Hof Palace, the Princessehof museum, once the residence of Maria Louise van Hessen-Kassel, Prinsentuin park, the Fries Museum of material culture and the Jacobijnerkerk church where stadtholders of Friesland have their own crypts.
Above all… be sure to enjoy strolling through the narrow streets of Leeuwarden!
Sights on this route
Starting point
Willemskade 10
8911 BA Leeuwarden
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Fries Museum
Ontdek de Fries in jezelf in het Fries Museum! Hier ontdek je alles over de elf steden en het platteland, de haat-liefdeverhouding met het water, de zoektocht naar het typisch Friese en de plek van Friesland in de wereld.
Oldehove
De Oldehove staat hier al sinds 1529 en is zelfs schever dan de Toren van Pisa! Je kunt hem van binnen en buiten bewonderen. De in 2011 ingebouwde lift brengt je naar de eerste verdieping, vanaf daar zal je de wenteltrap naar het dak moeten bedwingen.
Het Princessehof
Midden in de historische binnenstad van Leeuwarden staat het 18de-eeuwse stadspaleis van Maria Louise van Hessen-Kassel, prinses van Oranje Nassau, voorouder van Koning Willem-Alexander. Ook werd in hetzelfde pand de wereldberoemde M. C. Escher geboren.
Fletcher Hotel-Paleis Stadhouderlijk Hof
In het hart van het stadscentrum van Leeuwarden vindt u het schitterende Fletcher Hotel-Paleis Stadhouderlijk Hof.
Fletcher Hotel-Paleis Stadhouderlijk Hof
Fletcher Hotel-Paleis Stadhouderlijk Hof
Hofplein 29
8911HJ Leeuwarden
Grote of Jacobijnerkerk
De Grote of Jacobijnerkerk is de oudste en bouwkundig belangrijkste kerk van Leeuwarden.
End point
Willemskade 10
8911 BA Leeuwarden
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