ADVERTISING INFORMATION

In 1574, the Spanish held Leiden under siege. Starvation was a growing threat. And then one daring young man, Cornelis Joppensz, managed to sneak into the Spanish encampment and steal a simmering copper kettle full of stew.

Leiden’s atmosphere is largely determined by its university. In 1575 Leiden was the first city in the North of Holland to be given a university in reward for the courageous behaviour displayed by its citizens during the Spanish occupation. The university has developed into a world-famous centre of science, while its many students contribute to the lively and convivial atmosphere in the city.

Rembrandt was born in 1606 and developed his painting skills, this is where doctor Boerhaave taught and where Clusius brought the first Dutch tulips into flower. Rembrandt Harmensz - van Rijn knew both great fame and great poverty. Holland's greatest artist was born in 1606 as the son of a well-to-do miller. At 18 years of age he moved to Amsterdam and started working under the tutelage of Pieter Lastman, a popular painter. In Amsterdam Rembrandt developed his talents as a successful painter. He knew as did no other how to play with light and shadow. One of his first major projects was recording on canvas the anatomy lesson of Dr. Tulp. This met with much acclaim. Both The Anatomy Lesson and The Nightwatch can be viewed at the Rijks museum in Amsterdam. But with the latter, in 1642, Rembrandt was less successful. His clients were certainly not pleased when he depicted a number of patrol group members, on the basis of a purely compositional approach, in the dark. From then on Rembrandt had a hard time. The love of his life, Saskia, died. He went bankrupt. Later on both his son, Titus, and his mistress, Geertje Dircx, also passed away. Although Rembrandt remained a respected artist in his time, and he did always have work to do, his work was not really appreciated. He died in poverty.

Just as has been the case with so many artists, Rembrandt's fame began centuries after his death. We can safely say that The Night Watch is the best known painting in the world. The Rijks museum has 21 Rembrandts, including the Jewish Bride and the Syndics, as well as dozens of works by the students of Rembrandt, Ferdinand Bol and Govert Flinck.

History of Leiden University - Leiden University was founded in 1575, as an unexpected gift to the city. In 1574, Prince William of Orange took the first steps towards establishing the university, when he wrote a letter to the States of Holland. In this letter he proposed that as a reward for the town’s brave resistance against the Spanish invaders a university be founded which would serve as ‘a staunch support and maintenance of the freedom and good lawful government of the country’. On February 8, 1575, the university was founded, and later was granted the motto Praesidium Libertatis, or Bastion of Liberty. During the first three years of its history, the university was housed first at the Barbara cloister and subsequently from 1577 to 1581 at the Faliede Bagijnhof, the very place where one will nowadays again find the Board of the University. In 1581 the University then moved to the other side of the canal called the Rapenburg, and found permanent residence in the old chapel of a Dominican abbey. It is in this building where the university still celebrates its rituals, where inaugural lectures and valedictions are held, where defence ceremonies and examinations take place, and where its graduates receive their diplomas.

Back to Europe

© Copyright 2000 - 2004  Eurotravelling.net  POWERED BY wORLDTRAVELGATE.NET