Characteristic mansion on the Rhine with a very spacious roof terrace. This characteristic 18th century mansion with a rich history is located on the spot where the northern border of the Roman Empire used to be and where the city walls and gates were located during the Relief of Leyden. After the old city walls were demolished, a stately mansion was built on this spot with a few smaller houses on an alley in the backyard. Later, the back house was built on the site of the smaller houses, the alley lost its function, but it can still be recognized when you look outside through the kitchen windows. The old features of the mansion are still visible in the front house: high ceilings with heavy oak beams that run from wall to wall and a beautiful hand-sawn beam construction with a ridge of no less than seven meters high in the attic. As a result, all rooms are high, light and large without exception. The ground floor is currently used as a living floor with the living room in the front house, an intermediate courtyard and the kitchen in the back house. The living room served as a butcher's shop for a while in the 19th and early 20th century, which is still clearly visible in the facade with steel and rivets with an enormous display window. Nowadays, this not only offers a beautiful view of the canal, but because the original shop door has been preserved, it also provides access to the front step with a bench and plant pots. A lovely place to sit in the sun from early spring to late autumn and enjoy the passing boats and people cycling past. Between the living room and the kitchen is the courtyard, which with its white plastered walls brings a lot of light into the house and offers a place to cool off outside on hot summer days. The current residents are crazy about cooking and this is clearly visible in the kitchen. It is gigantic and not only offers all the space and kitchen equipment for the (amateur) chef, but also a chef's table where you can enjoy yourself with large groups. A modern spiral staircase takes you to the 1st floor with two bedrooms and a bathroom. The bedroom at the front is located across the entire width of the house and offers a beautiful view of the drawbridge over the Rhine with a view through the Kraaierstraat all the way to the Plantsoen. This room is currently used as a home office and for guests. The bathroom is located at the rear of the front house. It is very spacious with a bath, a walk-in shower and double sink. From here, two windows offer a view of the courtyard, which also allows a lot of light into the bathroom. The bedroom at the rear is not only striking because of its size, but also because of the incidence of light. Not only from the windows on the courtyard and the windows on the former alley, but also from the very beautiful windows in the roof. The spiral staircase has been continued to the 2nd floor with an open floor with sleeping loft and a roof terrace with winter greenhouse. The ridge of the former attic has a height of six meters and the characteristic beam construction with rafter roof is still fully visible here. The space has been kept open and Velux windows have been placed in the roof surface, allowing light to enter from all sides and further emphasizing the sense of space. The attic is currently used as a home office and second living room with a floor in the ridge that serves as a bedroom for guests. Because the roof is insulated from the outside and all windows are fitted with double glazing, it does not get too hot here in the summer and not too cold in the winter. On the landing is a second modern bathroom with shower, toilet and sink, making the attic almost a completely independent apartment. The icing on the cake is the very spacious roof terrace. This offers an unobstructed view of the gardens behind it where you can enjoy the outdoors and peace in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the city center. The terrace has a wooden deck and the many potted plants and trees give it a green character. A unique feature is the winter greenhouse where the more vulnerable potted plants can survive the winter. The old and vibrant centre of Leiden is a stone's throw away with its terraces, the market, passing boats, museums and restaurants. Schools, sports clubs and other activities can be reached by bike at a short distance, as can Leiden Central Station. You can get a permit for your car in the city centre and visitors can park in one of the nearby parking garages or on the street via the visitors app. SPECIAL FEATURES - National monument - Nationally protected cityscape - Old age clause - Almost entirely fitted with double glazing - Externally insulated roof