480 



THE NETHEELANDS. 



never riding upon it. Comfortable villas, the homes of the aristocracy of birth 

 and wealth, abound. The public buildings are not remarkable for their architecture. 

 In front of the Binnenhof, the seat of the legislature, Barneveldt ascended the 

 scaffold, to which the jealousy of Maurice of Nassau condemned him. Near it is 

 the gate where another stadtholder caused the brothers De Witt to be torn to 

 pieces by an infuriated mob. The picture gallery, in the Mauritshuis, and the 

 public library, are rich in treasures of art, and the number of valuable private 

 collections is considerable. A fine avenue connects the Hague with the favourite 

 seaside resort and fishing village of Scheveningen. Rysivyk (2,840 inhabitants), of 

 treaty memory, lies to the south-east. 



Leyden (41,298 inhabitants), on the Old Rhine, 6 miles above its mouth at 

 Katwyk (6,486 inhabitants), is the Lugdimum Batavonim of the Eomans, and was 



Fig. 270. — The Hague and Scheveningen. 

 Scale 1 : 100,000. 



l3°/o''E.oFGr. 



1 Mile. 



anciently defended by a hiirgt, which occupied an artificial mound raised in its 

 centre. It is famous for its university, founded in 1576, in recognition of the 

 bravery exhibited by the citizens during the siege sustained two years before. 

 Leyden reached the height of its prosperity in the seventeenth century, but wars 

 and foreign competition have much reduced its woollen industry, and its streets 

 exhibit little animation. The scientific collections are many and valuable. 



Gouda (17,070 inhabitants), in the interior of the province, occupies a favour- 

 able position for commerce, and is famous for "clinkers," pipes, and cheese. 



North Holland. — Atnsterdant (296,200 inhabitants), although it is not the 

 seat of Government, is nevertheless the veritable capital of the Netherlands. As 

 long as the Zuider Zee was freely navigable, its position on a well-sheltered harbour 



