Ever since my company relocated in november last Year, my Daily commute takes me throug the center of the amazing city of Leiden. It made me re-rediscover my hometown again.

I was born in Leiden and live in a city close by so I know the city of Leiden very well. Somehow my early morning trips through its sleepy center takes me past all of the interesting sights the city has to offer. After only one day going back and forth to my work i started to bring my camera along. Most of the times i guestimate what the weather will do and decide which route to take.

The first interesting site I pass are the medieval city gates of Leiden. Zijlpoort is a city gate in Leiden, The Netherlands. The gate was built in 1667 in the classical style. Because the gates had to connect with the city wall as well as with a bridge, the building is in the form of a parallelogram. Together with the Morspoort, the Zijlpoort is the only one of the original eight gates that survive. I am always impressed when I cycle underneath the tower and imagine how it must have been when it was built. When the light is right or the conditions special i just can not pass it without taking a shot. Either with my phone or with my camera. Sometimes even at the same time!

Anyway here are some of the results…

Soon more on other locations… Stay Tuned…

A morning view of the beautiful medeival gate of Leiden, The Netherlands

Hand holding a cell phone taking an photo of the medieval city gate of Leiden, The Netherlands

This mornings pre sunrise in the inner harbor of the beautiful city of Leiden, the Netherlands
The Perseverance of Lady Fortune by www.martijnvandernat.nl
1/4 sec, f6,3 ISO 200, 17 mm taken off one of the bollards

If you are interested in buying prints or canvas of my series of Leiden you can check them out here