Thiri and Min came from Myanmar for a summer week in the Netherlands, and Leiden was the day they had circled on their map. We had no theme in mind. Still, within an hour, the red doors of Leiden had become the thread of their walk.
I planned a short route through the lanes around the Pieterskerk, so they could simply walk and talk. That is how I like to work as a photographer in Leiden: one compact area, no rushing and nothing for the couple to prepare.
- Where
- The lanes around the Pieterskerk, Leiden
- When
- August, early afternoon
- Session
- Lovestory Photoshoot
- Light
- Bright sky in the open streets, soft shade under the trees
A Café Lane and Two Red Doors
We met at a quarter past one in a cobbled lane lined with café tables, wine barrels and hanging baskets of flowers. At its end stands the gate of the Burcht, Leiden’s old fortress on a hill. Thiri wore a soft pink top and a long checked skirt, and Min a cream shirt with rolled sleeves. Their colors matched without being the same, which works beautifully against old brick. They walked toward me hand in hand, then stopped and laughed at something only they had heard.
Around the corner, a pair of red doors waited under a carved stone face with wings. I placed the two of them close to the wood, so the color would fill the frame. When Thiri rested her hand on Min’s shoulder, I had the photo that opens this story.
A Shady Bench by the Pieterskerk
Next, we walked to the square around the Pieterskerk, the late-Gothic church in the heart of old Leiden. Small houses lean against its walls, and a broad tree throws deep shade over a round wooden bench. In that shade, the light turned soft and even. They sat down, Thiri hid her laugh behind her hand, and a moment later she kissed Min on the cheek.
From there, we slipped into a narrow side street with gabled houses at its end. Min held out his hand, and Thiri rose onto her toes for a kiss, one foot lifting off the cobbles. A few doors further, ivy hung over a window and an old black bike leaned against the wall, so we stopped there too.
A Dance by the Pieterskerk’s Red Doors
One quiet street leads straight to a pair of bright red doors in the pale wall of the Pieterskerk. It was too good to walk past. I asked Min to take Thiri’s hand and turn her, slowly at first. By the third turn, they had forgotten the camera, and her skirt swung out wide.
Passers-by smiled as they walked around them. For me, these frames are the heart of the afternoon: two people dancing in a quiet street, with the red doors of Leiden behind them.
Geraniums, a Painted Gate and One Last Bridge
Near a row of tall brick houses, red geraniums bloomed beside a green hedge. Min wrapped his arms around Thiri from behind and kissed her temple, while she laughed toward me.
Around another corner, we found an old stone gateway with doors painted in red and white triangles. Thiri leaned into Min and laughed, and a minute later they kissed right in the middle of the red. It was the last red door of the walk, and perhaps the boldest.
We ended by the water. A narrow wooden footbridge led to a brick house with, of course, a red front door.
Then a small wooden boat slid past on the canal while they stood on the quay. Last of all, we came to the Hoogstraat, where the Oude and Nieuwe Rijn meet. Beside a lamppost hung with geraniums, they simply looked at me and smiled. Their walk past the red doors of Leiden ended just after two.
Would you like to see more of these lanes first? My guide to photo spots in Leiden walks you through them.
Dreaming of an afternoon like this one? Discover how I work as a photographer in Leiden.