Leyden - Oude Vest

From the Havenplein the Oude Vest, lined with typical Dutch house-fronts, runs west. As its name indicates (vest = "rampart"), this was part of the town's fortifications between 1355 and 1610. When the town expanded this stretch of wall was demolished and a new town wall built farther out, on the line of the Maresingel and Herensingel.