Leeuwarden...

...is, in my opinion, a beautiful city with a village feeling. It is the capital of Friesland in the northwest of the Netherlands As a tourist destination I would choose Leeuwarden rather than Amsterdam. The city is perfect for exploration on foot and there are lots of interesting shops and restaurants. Most outdoor cafes are overlooking a canal.

The people in Leeuwarden are, according to an article I have just read, in general really down to earth and they don't like to boast. If you tell them how beautiful Leeuwarden is, they will reply by saying 'it kin minder' or 'it kin nog wos wut wurde' meaning as much as 'it could have been worse' and 'maybe it can become something'. That's the local way of being positive.