Leidsevaart

The Leidsevaart (also known as Leidse trekvaart, Dutch for "Leiden's Pull-Canal") is a canal between the cities of Haarlem and Leiden in the Netherlands. It was dug in 1657, making it one of the oldest canals in the Netherlands. It was the major means of transport between Leiden and Haarlem for almost two centuries until the rail connection was established in the 19th century. The original stops along the railroad mirrored the toll bridges of the canal.

The canal runs through or borders the municipalities of Haarlem, Heemstede, Bloemendaal, Bennebroek, Hillegom, Noordwijkerhout, Lisse, Teylingen, Oegstgeest, and Leiden.

History

The Leidsevaart was the extension of the "Haarlemmertrekvaart" (Haarlem's Pull-Canal) connecting Amsterdam to Haarlem. Travel on these canals was done by barge ("trekschuit") which were pulled by animals (and sometimes by man-power) on a path along the canal's edge. It was reliable, comfortable and cheap. The speed was about 7 kilometers per hour, which was faster than walking, and more comfortable than by coach. Many wealthy Amsterdam families had summer homes along the Leidsevaart or Spaarne River, and they arrived with their heavy belongings by barge, often being pulled or sailed all the way to their door, as most summer estates had canals dug for this purpose. Even today the old canals are visible though probably too shallow for a trekschuit.

Because of its many non-operable bridges along its course, the Leidsevaart is unsuitable for boat traffic nowadays and therefore has fallen mostly in disuse.

Estates along the Leidsevaart

* Oud Poelgeest, home to Herman Boerhaave
* Keukenhof, former estate and scene of a yearly flower show in the Netherlands
* Huis te Vogelenzang (reachable via a rather long canal spur that continued straight when the canal approached Heemstede
* The Hartekamp, home to George Clifford and famous for Linnaeus' " Hortus Cliffortianus'
* Huis te Manpad, at the corner of the Manpadslaan and located at the toll bridge to Heemstede
* Leyduin, across from the Manpad
* Meer en Berg, at the end of the Manpad on the East side (now part of Groenendaal park)
* Iepenrode, across from Groenendaal (now part of Groenendaal park)
* Berkenrode, across from the Haarlem toll bridge (now site of the train station Heemstede-Aerdenhout)
* Alverna, across from Berkenrode