Leiden, Alphen aan den Rijn and Leiderdorp

Leiden is called Sleutelstad (Key City), referring to the city's coat of arms featuring a white shield and two crossed red keys. The city's history dates back to at least the year 860, when it was still a dike village built at the foot of an artificial hill. Modern-day Leiden is primarily a center of scientific knowledge and new technology. It's no wonder Leiden boasts the oldest university in the Netherlands. Leiderdorp is separated from Leiden only by the rivers De Zijl and Oude Rijn. The close connection between the cities' histories is also reflected in the city's coat of arms. Except for a blue bar, which may symbolize the rivers, the keys, shield, and lion have clearly been adopted from Leiden. After seeing the two coats of arms, it will come as no surprise that Leiderdorp's territory originally extended to the castle you see in the center of Leiden. Around 1200, Leiderdorp had to cede part of its territory to the growing city. Cycling outside the built-up area offers a pleasant change of pace. The flat polder is a beautiful contrast to the tall buildings you see in the cities. Plots of land are interrupted by perfectly straight ditches and channels: a typical Dutch landscape at its best.