Leiden, Warmond

Rembrandt van Rijn was, without a doubt, the most famous Leiden painter of the Golden Age. Today we take you along the places, between Leiden and Warmond, that inspired the artist and his Leiden contemporaries, past Rembrandt's former studio and more important highlights from the lives of these Leiden masters.

Dutch museums and far beyond have paintings by artists of the 17th century, including many famous Leiden painters. Especially still lifes, (group) portraits and history paintings with biblical, mythological or literary scenes were popular subjects for painting at the time, but everyday scenes, landscapes and cityscapes were also often the theme.

By far the most famous Dutch artist of that baroque painting era, Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn, was born on Weddesteeg on 15 July 1606. The house is right opposite the former De Rijn standing mill where his father processed grain into malt for breweries. Rembrandt is the ninth child in the family. At the age of seven, he begins an education at the Latin school, followed by a study of literature of at least two years at Leiden University.

After completing his studies, the young Rembrandt is first apprenticed to Leiden painter Jacob van Swanenburgh (1621-1623), before making a trip to Amsterdam to take lessons from history painter Pieter Lastman. He learns not only painting, but also drawing and etching.
In 1625, he returned to Leiden, where, near his birthplace, he started his own studio and worked frequently with his friend and fellow student Jan Lievens. His first work seems mainly influenced by his Amsterdam teacher, but he also experimented with new techniques and raw materials and developed his own typical style, depicting people in a very lifelike, emotive and characteristic way and applying light-dark effects brilliantly. In 1631, Rembrandt, then only 25 years young, left for Amsterdam where he became one of the greatest painters in history.

Some well-known other Leiden painters from the Golden Age are Jacob van Swanenburgh, Rembrandt's first teacher; fine painter Gerrit Dou one of his pupils in Leiden and of course Jan Steen, who became world-famous mainly for his humorous and messy paintings of households and pubs. Or Frans and Willem van Mieris. Some of them did not stay in the studio, but went out and drew and painted the surroundings of Leiden. For instance, landscape painter Jan van Goyen drew landscapes everywhere in his sketchbook and later painted them in his studio. For instance, he painted Gezicht op Leiden vanuit het noordoosten (1651), which he must have painted along the Zijl river. On this route, you not only pass this little river, but also cycle through old Leiden, which flourished in the Golden Age, and past various places that played such an important role in the life of the young Rembrandt. Sometimes you'll have to go off route and cycle through Leiden's alleys, but it's definitely worth it!

Note! Along the way, you will encounter a bicycle ferry on this route. It only sails from 1 March to 1 October. If you cycle outside the sailing season, go straight to junction 1 from junction 44 (or vice versa if you cycle the route in the other direction).


Self-portrait Rembrandt: royalty-free via Erfgoed Leiden en Omstreken.


This Premium Cycle route was compiled by our editor: Wieger Favier.