Now we’ll walk onto Wirdumerdijk in the direction of the Zaailand (the other underground parking garage).  The Wirdumerdijk is always busy and has many shoe shops and cell phone stores. 
At the end of the street hundreds of people eat their Big Mac’s every day.  The yellow M has nestled into the intercity.  Behind this hamburger giant are a few dark alleys. 
This is where Leeuwarden hides her Red Light District. This is also the area of town where the city’s youth like to hang out and the police often come to send them away.   

Between the many shops along the Wirdumerdijk is a small church on the Menno Simonsplein.  Just beyond the front gates of this church lays a silent oasis. 
As we walk slowly towards the end of this street in the direction of the Zaailand, we are taken into the domain of the God of Prosperity for Merchants.  Here on the Mercuriusplein (Mercury’s Square) we’ll see his statue in the middle of a large outdoor fountain. (removed 2010)  This Area is due for revitalization in 2010-11 and the fountain will be relocated to across the street in front of the library.

In the picture on the right you can see the current situation but in the year to come this will change because of expansion of the shopping mall. 
The remarkable buildings that surround this large empty square behind the shopping mall are the old and new Palace of Justice (Paleis van Justitie).  The monumental building of Friesland Bank with its classic protective cast iron bars in the windows and the Auck Peters Huis with a beautifully sculptured historical garden.