Leidsevaart

He 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. He was for over 200 years, the main transportation route between the two cities and served primarily to transport passengers. In the year 1677 148.397 passengers were transported. The ride from Leiden to Haarlem lasted four hours and every two hours driving a boat. Initially a ride cost eleven Stuiver, which were 0.55 guilders. Five Stuiver were due as customs, the rest got the Schiffergilde. When the railway was built along the canal in the 19th century, it lost its significance.

The canal passes 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 Haarlemmermeer Trek Vaart, who joined Haarlem Amsterdam. On the canal barges wrong ( Dutch: Trekschuiten ), which were pulled by people or horses. On the banks of the canal was a towpath. The trip was reasonably priced and comfortable, more comfortable than a coach. Many wealthy Amsterdammers had at the Leidsevaart their summer homes, and could, as they were usually reached by a branch canal, take their luggage to their homes. Because of the many low bridges the Leidsevaart for the recreational boating is not suitable and is therefore hardly traveled today.

Mansions on the Leidsevaart

• Oud Poelgeest, estate of Herman Boerhaave
• Keukenhof, a former country house, now site of the Keukenhof flower show
• Huis te Vogelenzang
• Hartekamp, home of George Clifford, famous for Linnaeus Hortus Cliffortianus
• Huis te Manpad, at the toll bridge Heemstede
• Leyduin,
• Sea Mountain en
• Iepenrode, now part of Groenendaal park
• Berkenrode, opposite the Toll Bridge Haarlem
• Alverna, opposite Berkenrode

Today, the canal is a popular angling with many carp and white fish.