Leiden still has two city gates. The Morspoort and the beautiful Zijlpoort from 1667. The Zijlpoort was built in classicist style to a design by Leiden master builder Willem van der Helm.
Leiden originally had eight gates. The predecessor of the Zijlpoort stood at the end of the Haarlemmerstraat, at the site of today's Havenplein. In 1667, the city built a new gatehouse on the east side of the then walled city. The Zijlpoort stood a little further on at the entrance to the Harbour on the Herensingel. Near this gatehouse, they built the long Zijlpoortsbrug over the Herensingel.
The gatehouse had enough space for other activities. The room above the passageway fulfilled various functions. In the early eighteenth century, the rederijkers met there. From 1736, the city established a school for poor children there. In the nineteenth century, Leiden used the Zijlpoort as a warehouse. After a renovation at the end of the last century, a catering establishment established itself near the city gate. Next to the Zijlpoort is the cemetery of the same name since 1828.
Some interesting facts about the Zijlpoort:
- The Zijlpoort is Leiden's last surviving city gate.
- The gate has had various functions over the centuries, including that of prison and armoury.
- In 1974, the Zijlpoort was thoroughly restored.
- The gate can be reached on foot or by bicycle.
Are you in Leiden? Then a visit to the Zijlpoort is definitely worthwhile!
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