The Transvaal Neighborhood Bounded by Water

Many borders are formed naturally by bodies of water, and in Leiden this is no different. The first border that demarcated the Transvaal Neighborhood was the Galgewater. This body of water derives from the Oude Rijn, which has been flowing to the south of the area for centuries.

This body of water was given a rather spooky name – the galg in Galgewater translates to gallows. The name was given for a reason: in older days, executions were performed at the Galgewater. Gallows would be put up along the water for the public to view the executed people.P.J.M. de Baar, Wonen aan het Galgewater (Utrecht 1988) 13.

Before this water was associated with death, it actually brought some life into the Transvaal neighborhood. Back then, the water would gradually collect heaps of clay on its banks, eventually resulting in flood plains that could be used to build new houses or gardens.P.J.M. de Baar, Wonen aan het Galgewater (Utrecht 1988) 13. In the 16th century, when Leiden played a significant part in horticulture, many of the plots in the Transvaal neighborhood were used by gardeners.

From the moment residential houses were built and the first signs of an actual neighborhood appeared, so too appeared various amenities for the residents. In 1886, the Rhijnzicht swimming pool was opened on the Morsweg (fig. 1). While it looks like a swimming pool, it was actually an enclosed part of the Rijn. Various water polo and swimming contests were held here, and a successful swimming club was established as well. This was a place where boys could swim and girls could relax in the tea garden. The moment women were allowed to swim was seen as a step in female emancipation.

Another activity that the Rijn could facilitate was rowing. In 19th and 20th century, two rowing associations were located on the Morsweg: the Leidsche Roei- en Zeilvereniging Die Leythe and Koninklijke Studentenroeivereniging Njord.If you want to know more about Njord, then read these stories. The latter was called to life to promote rowing among Dutch students and alumni. Its location in the Transvaal neighborhood was very suitable, as it was easy to go out on the water from there.

Throughout the history of the Transvaal neighborhood, the water there has also been used to transport goods. The factories that arose on the Morsweg in the beginning of the 20th century produced canned goods that were not only meant to be sold in the Netherlands, but also in the colonies (the Dutch Indies, Suriname and South Africa). Even in the original Transvaal in South Africa, people would eat preserved vegetables from the Transvaal neighborhood in Leiden! We will follow these products from the Transvaal in Leiden across national borders in a minute, but first we stick to the borders of the neighborhood itself…