# The Rapenburg in Leiden

- By: Carel Lodewijk Hansen (Amsterdam, 1765–1840)
- Date: 1807
- Medium: canvas, oil paint (paint)
- Classification: painting
- Dimensions: height 94.5 cm x width 125.5 cm
- Museum: [Rijksmuseum](https://www.rijksmuseum.nl/en/collection/object/SK-A-3925--ea93785c89b1833ce789273bfba1bba6)
- Rights: [Public Domain Mark](http://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/mark/1.0/)
- Picture: https://iiif.micr.io/TUOMX/full/!1920,1080/0/default.jpg
- Who can see it: Teens profiles and older (museums give no ratings; placed by Invisible Network from the museum's own words)

On 12 January 1807 a ship laden with 37,000 pounds of gunpowder exploded in the centre of Leiden. It was a national disaster: 150 people died and many houses were destroyed. King Louis Napoleon, shown at left among Leiden city officials, acted like a true father to his subjects. Three days after the explosion, he visited the scene and organized financial help. This made him very popular with the Dutch.