wall poems of leiden

I don't think you should look for it specially but it's a real pleasure to find suddenly a well-known or maybe less known poem and admire it again.

Wherever you go in the city, the culture looks at you from the walls, and you must read the poems, and you will be richer in your soul.

These poems are on walls all over town and they create a very interesting and unique background to the town. Some are in english too but i particularly liked the one about the train . Klikklak klakkiti klak klikklak

I loved this combination of architecture and poetry, though I had my partner translate the Dutch text, The walls become the backdrop to Dutch literature, and musings. It would be nice if there was a map and background/ story to the poem available, I am aware if there is. This is a unique experience even for typographers

On several walls poems have been transcribed which provide a literary backdrop to street activities.

Can be surprised by view of these poems along a stroll through the city or by following a guide specifically to observe. Either way, a great addition to an already charming, walking city.

Wonderful how poems are promoted this way of international poets in their own language through the walls, which this way have a usful function too. The walk is quite extensive and leads through a Leiden you otherwise would not get to know, recommendation!

Not to be missed - pick up a guide booklet from the tourist office and cycle or walk by them. Wonderful initiative.

but yeah...first few years i lived here i'd stop to read all the poems that were in english...they're in all sorts of languages...since my learning dutch, i've read a number of those...some haven't moved me, some have...but ya gotta love the concept...it's one of the things i've loved about this country since first coming here in '98...the art one finds in wholly unexpected places...like the rusted, sun faced bicycle rider in perpetual flight alongside a canal i often ride by...all part of what makes me feel i'm living in the right place...

Painted artfully on buildings, where and when you least expect them, a real delight. And the range of poets are wonderful. Whatever you encounter them, you are bound to learn something. The nicest thing is the element of surprise. When you run into a poem, it is like a gift. For example, on the street parallel to Oude Singel, I read 'Listen Here is what Charlie did to the Blues', by Waring Cuney (1906-1976), in honor of Charlie Parker. Try your luck. You will not be dissappointed.

All over the old city of Leiden you will find poetry written on walls. As they are in their original language, some will be understandable, some not. But the whole idea of them is fun. They celebrate the art of poetry but also the international background of Leiden, which is a university town that has been home to refugees from all over through the ages.

Very clever and interesting concept and enjoyed discovering the poems as we walked around Leiden. Some familiar while others were new to us.

It is an intersting way to decorate the buildings. Lots of poems from different centuries and in different languages.

Lovely poems on the wall of houses make Leiden even more romantic. I passed by them in my walk tour around the city. I love the ancient, romantic and peaceful of Leiden with canals, windmills, parks, hundreds of year houses, small roads and lovely poems. Worth to spend time to visit Leiden.

It is so nice to walk around the city and find poems written on old buildings' walls in different languages and from different times.