Leiden and Amsterdam

I spent a long weekend visiting Leiden and Amsterdam for a wedding of some close friends. As usual, I had to take a run through the area!

Leiden is a lovely town. The route around the outside of the main canals is 6km, although it’s probably better to run through the main streets of the town to see a little more of the sights. The video shows running along the main canal, from Molen de Put, a quick guest appearance by the Groom, past De Bonte Koe (a great wee pub), ending at Molen de Valk. Although the main streets were a little busy for running, if you avoid market day then you’ll be fine!

Leiden is only 40 mins train ride from Amsterdam, and 20 from the airport. I’d highly recommend spending a day here, you get the lovely houses and canals like Amsterdam, but at a smaller scale and slower pace.

It was so nice to see so many friends in the same place at the same time. A lovely city and set of venues to celebrate in. For a few years after University I was more focused on work and coding that I should have been. It’s weekends like this that bring home the value of keeping in touch with your friends, and making an effort to get together.

As I was passing through Amsterdam for two days I took the chance to go to the Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum (repeat visit!). Both are great, and are within walking distance of the center.