Leiden is known for the oldest university in the country located there, but that’s not all. It is rich in cultural and religious development. One structure bearing testament to that is the Marekerk. Built in the neo-classical style, the octagonal-shaped dome of the Marekerk is hard to miss in the city’s skyline. Opened in 1649, the church was the first to be built in Leiden after the Reformation. It was built especially for Protestant service, with the pulpit made of solid oak as the centerpiece of the church, chairs and pews grouped around it.

The impressive organ built by Pieter de Swart was originally for the Pieterskerk, although it was moved to the Marekerk in the 1700s. The church even holds regular concerts and theatre performances. You can enjoy a boat ride on the Oude Vest, delighting in the historic façades before getting off near the Marekerk that is impossible to miss from the distance.