From the Burcht in Leiden, you can get a beautiful view of the old city. This work shows in the foreground the weathered battlements of the castle covered with lichen. In the middle is the famous Marekerk, the first Protestant church in the Netherlands, built in 1649. With the round shape they wanted to distinguish themselves from the Catholic church buildings that were all built in a cross shape. About the city of Leiden: Leiden is an old city with a lot of history. The undisputed oldest part is the Burcht which dates from 1150. It is likely that the Burcht is much older and possibly had a defensive structure as early as around 450 AD. The Old Rhine River flows through Leiden and discharges further on into the sea. Thanks to the cloth industry, Leiden was one of the largest cities in the Northern Netherlands from the late Middle Ages until the 17th century.
About the image maker: as a born and bred Amsterdammer, Peter Bartelings feels a close connection with the city of Amsterdam. Over the years, he has created iconic works that are widely sold. In numerous European countries, his work adorns walls of houses and offices... Read more…