Lazy Sundays in Leiden

It’s Sunday, it’s sunny, and Leiden has some of its special little surprises to offer. So whatever you are doing right now, take a break from it and indulge a little bit the nice weather, some fancy food and some pretty things!

Today a couple of things are happening: It’s “Verrassend Winkel Weekend Leiden” (Surprise Shop Weekend) and Japan Market. That means, there are lots of stalls full of foods and art and beautiful things, and people and music and scents all around town!

I haven’t been to all the spots where “Winkel Weekend” is taking place, but in front of the Town Hall you can find little shops or people presenting their goods, many arty or self-made things or second hand stuff. Lovely!

And in front of the Pieterskerk you can find a little food paradise! Really, so many, extremely creative, stalls with a big variety of food, you’ll definitely find something that will make your mouth water! Freshly grilled fish, a variety of tortillas, smoothies, cakes, cheeseburger and sausages, thai food and organic vegetarian dishes. I could’ve spent all day tasting through everything, if I had the time and money. But I don’t regret my choices: Excellent beetroot couscous salad that tastes like a summer garden, and 100% Banana ice cream! It’s really 100% banana, and it really tastes like the most delicious creamy ice cream! Wow!

Then there is the Japan market all along the Rapenburg, starting at the Siebold house going up to the Academic Gebouw. I can only recommend to save some space in your belly for delicious Japanese food. Last year I had “Okonumiyaki” there and it was the most blissful experience. But of course there are more things in life than food. The Japan Market has a lot to offer, not only all kind of art and things (from Bonsai trees to origami cards to nice Japanese tea pots and dishes) but also workshops (manga drawing) and performances (drums and flutes), and, last but not least, lots of cosplay people, making the world a bit more colourful!

And at 5 there is the opening of the photo exhibition “Japan Now and Then” in the café “Vooraf en Toe” Botermarkt 9. It looks interesting, check it out here:  https://www.facebook.com/events/1450818561823128/?fref=ts 

Everything outside is still going on all of this afternoon, so, seriously, take a break from studying and allow yourself to enjoy a little bit of a lazy sunny sunday time!