Leiden Travel Guide

 
by jikko
 
  •   Leiden
    by jikko
  •   Leiden
    by swetluska
  • Cold Day in December
      Cold Day in December
    by IrishFem
  • Typical old street in Leiden!
      Typical old street in Leiden!
    by Roeffie
  • Leiden, centre
      Leiden, centre
    by jacobzoethout
 

Pro

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 Windmills, floating cafes, lot of students 


Con

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 The weather is freezing in December 


In a nutshell

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 Vibrant university town with lots of activity 

 

Explore Leiden

Things to Do  

Historical Leiden

Historical Leiden, Leiden

 92 Reviews  The City Hall of Leiden nowadays has two faces. The oldest part of the building is the outer wall at the Breestraat. The newest part of 1932 is located at the side of the Vismarkt. The new City Hall had to be build after the city fire of February 12, 1929. The whole area was redesigned and room was... 

Museums

Museums, Leiden

 13 Reviews  The Museum van Volkenkunde is one of the oldest ethnological museums in the world. In the museum collection are over 200,000 objects and 500,000 audiovisual sources from all over the globe. The museum was founded in1837 and now is housed in the former Academic Hospital dating from 1873. There are... 

Churches

Churches, Leiden

 28 Reviews  The Hooglandse kerk church history goes back far in time. In 1316 Gwijde van Avesnes, Bishop of Utrect granted permission for the construction of a wooden chapel devoted to Saint Pancratius. Later that century a small church replaced the wooden chapel. The need for a bigger church grew with the... 

Windmill

Windmill, Leiden

 19 Reviews  Windmill De Put was build by Jan Janzoon Put in1618 at the Galgewater. Across the water stood a similar windmill owned by Rembrandt's parents. The Put has been painted by Rembrandt and can be seen in his earliest works. The Put burned down in 1640, but was quickly rebuild. In 1729 De Put was... 

Natural Leiden

Natural Leiden, Leiden

 9 Reviews  The "Hortus Botanicus" is one of the oldest botanical gardens in the world, opened in 1578 and it has a fabulous location. The front entrance faces the gorgeous Rapenburg canal and the actual garden is on the equally beautiful Witte Singel. It is not as impressive as other botanical gardens (like... 

Markets

Markets, Leiden

 2 Reviews  Leiden seem to have market for everything. The old names are kept as they were many years ago. There's a cheese market, prok market, and the biggest one "Beestenmarkt" the place where animals were traded. Leiden is the city of students and the market place hosts many performances by different... 

Academic Leiden

Academic Leiden, Leiden

 11 Reviews  Kweekschool voor Zeevaar is the name of this building and there's a dedication to Prince Hendrik right above the portal. This, to me, is symbolic of the town inasmuch as schooling is one of its main attractions. Naturally enough, when that is the case, there's usually a vibrant youthful feel about... 

Hotels  

Holiday Inn

 3 Reviews and 147 Opinions  Typical holiday inn hotel...very americanised surroundings. Decent buffet breakfast and dinner.... 

Golden Tulip Leiden Centre

 1 Review and 75 Opinions  We stayed at the Golden Tulip for our weekend trip to Leiden/Amsterdam and enjoyed our time there... 

Restaurants  

Lunchroom Snijers: Classic Dutch lunch in historic setting

Lunchroom Snijers: Classic Dutch lunch in historic setting, Leiden

 pieter_jan_v Says:  Lunchroom Snijers is housed in the historic Wanthuys.It's a bit hidden behind the bakery in the front of the building.The business is established in 1829.Great buns and othere goodies.Business hours:Mo: ClosedTu-Fr: 7AM - 6PMSa: 5AM - 5PMSu: Closed 

VOORAF en TOE: Starter and dessert

VOORAF en TOE: Starter and dessert, Leiden

 pieter_jan_v Says:  VOORAF en TOE is a nice small restaurant, good for breakfast, lunch or early diner.Also for coffees and teasGreat pies.Business hours:Mo-Tu: 8AM - 5:30PMWe: 8AM - 6PMTh-Fr: 8AM - 9PMSa: 7AM - 7PMSu: 9AM - 5:30PM 

Transportation  

Schuitjevaart Canal boat tour

Schuitjevaart Canal boat tour, Leiden

 pieter_jan_v Says:  Leiden is ideal for a canal boat tour. The city waterways played a great role in transportation of goods to the city in the old days. Via the canals you can travel through Leiden in a relaxed way in just an hour.The terminal of Schuitjevaart canal boat tours is mid-town at... 

Shopping  

Kapper Eric: Another barber shop

Kapper Eric: Another barber shop, Leiden

 pieter_jan_v Says:  Kapper Eric is a barber shop for men.Eric also sells special barber products at his ScheerwinkelEric has a nice display of foreign postcards of barber shops.Business hours:Mo: ClosedTu-Fr: 8AM - 5PMSa: 8AM - 5PMSu: Closed 

Trappers: Bicycles

Trappers: Bicycles, Leiden

 pieter_jan_v Says:  Trappers is a bicycle shop that sells traditional Dutch bicycles, but also special ones to transport children or goods. Also electrical bicycles and folding ones are for sale.For children there are little bikes and push bikes.Business hours:Mo: ClosedTu-We: 10AM - 6PMTh:... 

Local Customs  

Wedding Location

Wedding Location, Leiden

 pieter_jan_v Says:  Weddings get the local legal approval at the Leiden City Hall, that is surrounded by beautiful historical buildings. No wonder that the Koornbrugsteeg leading to the covered Koornbrug bridge also is known as Trouwstraatje (Wedding alley). 

Housing at it smallest

Housing at it smallest, Leiden

 pieter_jan_v Says:  To study is expensive, so students look for the cheapest rooms. Often apartments and rooms are shared to keep the living costs low. So, don't be surprised by a dozen of door bells at a Leiden frontdoor. 

Warnings and Dangers  

Seagulls

Seagulls, Leiden

 pieter_jan_v Says:  Leiden is that far from the North sea and it's now surprising that seagulls are in town when the street markets are there. It looks like most birds are older one, just waiting for food spills, but don't be surprised when one of them takes a dive to snatch some fast food. 

Off The Beaten Path  

Leiden Hofjes: Sint Salvatorhof

Leiden Hofjes: Sint Salvatorhof, Leiden

 pieter_jan_v Says:  In 1625 the Roman Catholic priest Pauwels van de Velde founded the Sint Salvatorhof at the Steenstraat 17 The hof has 14 small houses for housing of women.The Hof was renovated in 1978 – 1979.Nowadays students of the Leiden University live in the houses. 

Leiden Hofjes: Jean Michelhof

Leiden Hofjes: Jean Michelhof, Leiden

 pieter_jan_v Says:  In 1687 Catharina Geschier, widow of merchant Jean Michielsz, founded the Jean Michelhof at the Pieterskerkstraat 10. The hof has 12 small houses.Jean and Catharina lived at the Herengracht and before he died Jean already had bought some houses at tje Pieterkerkstraat. After... 

Sports & Outdoors  

Rowing

Rowing, Leiden

 pieter_jan_v Says:  With all the canals Leiden is ideal for rowing. Outside Leiden are many smaller waters and some lakes. There are several rowing clubs at Leiden; some only open to students; others open to everyone. Rowing boat or kayak 

Favorites  

Scenic Leiden

Scenic Leiden, Leiden

 19 Reviews  The Old Police Headquarter dates from 1927 and was designed by Jan Neisingh in the style of the Amsterdam school. The building is a National monument. Since the closure of the headquater in 2005 the city of Leiden is looking for another destination for the building like rendering of... 

Leiden University

Leiden University, Leiden

 4 Reviews  The Webster University at Leiden is an Academy for: -Business & Management (MBA) -Behavioral & Social Sciences (MA) -Global Politics -Media Communications & Fine Arts -Professional Development (CMA) The Webster University is located at Boommarkt 1 - 2311 EA Leiden. Tel: +31-71-5168001 

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Map of Leiden