Leidsevaart
The Leidsevaart , also known as the Leidse Trekvaart , is a 30-kilometer canal between Haarlem and Leiden .
It is one of the oldest canals in the Netherlands and was built in 1657. The canal was 15-30 meters wide and 1.5 meters deep. For over 200 years it was the main transport route between the two cities and was mainly used for passenger traffic. In 1677 148,397 passengers were carried. The drive from Leiden to Haarlem took four hours and there was a boat every two hours. At first, a trip cost eleven stuivers , or 0.55 gulden . Five students were due as customs , the remainder was given to the skippers' guild. When the railway line was built along the canal in the 19th century, it lost its importance.
The canal runs through or along the cities of Haarlem, Heemstede , Bloemendaal , Bennebroek , Hillegom , Noordwijkerhout , Lisse , Teylingen , Oegstgeest and Leiden.
history
The Leidsevaart was an extension of the Haarlemmertrekvaart that connected Haarlem with Amsterdam . Tow barges (Dutch: Trekschuiten ) operated on the canal , which were pulled by people or horses. A towpath ran along the bank of the canal . The trip was inexpensive and pleasant, more comfortable than a carriage. Many wealthy Amsterdammers had their summer houses on the Leidsevaart and, as these were mostly accessible through a branch canal, could drive their luggage to their houses with their luggage. Because of the many low bridges, the Leidsevaart is not suitable for recreational boating and is therefore rarely used today.
Manor houses on the Leidsevaart
- Oud Poelgeest , Herman Boerhaave's country house
- Keukenhof , former country residence, now the site of the Keukenhof flower show
- Huis te Vogelenzang
- Hartekamp , home of George Clifford and famous for Linnaeus Hortus Cliffortianus
- Huis te Manpad , at the Heemstede customs bridge
- Leyduin ,
- Sea and mountain
- Iepenrode , today part of the Groenendaal Park
- Berkenrode , opposite the Haarlem customs bridge
- Alverna , across from Berkenrode
Today the canal is a popular fishing spot with lots of carp and white fish.