What you will find here
- Personal experiences: one place or one day, written by someone who lives here.
- Practical detail — where, when, what it costs and when to skip it.
- Neighbourhoods and spots that never make the standard guidebooks.
- Stories about the city's history and the Leiden people who shaped it.
Write for us
Do you live in Leiden and have a place, route or experience worth sharing with visitors? Send your story or idea to info@visitleiden.com, or tag us on Instagram at @visit_leiden. We help edit it, publish it under your own name and link to the places you mention.
Stories on this blog
- Rembrandt van Rijn — the miller's son who changed European painting.
- Herman Boerhaave — the physician who invented the modern teaching hospital.
- Jan van Hout — the town clerk who talked Leiden into a university.
Frequently asked questions
- What are the Local Heroes stories?
- Background stories about Leiden's icons, places and events, written from a local perspective.
- How often do new stories appear?
- We add new stories and seasonal tips regularly.
- Can I send in a tip?
- Please do — email your tip to info@visitleiden.com.
Continue exploring Leiden
- Rembrandt van RijnRembrandt van Rijn was born in Leiden in 1606 and worked here until 1631. Where to find his Leiden: birthplace, Latin School, studio and early paintings.
- Herman BoerhaaveHerman Boerhaave turned Leiden into the medical capital of 18th-century Europe with bedside teaching. His city: the Caeciliahospital, the Hortus and his grave.
- Jan van HoutJan van Hout survived the siege of 1574, reorganised the city and helped secure Leiden's university in 1575. Where to see his work in the city today.
- Hidden gemsTen hidden gems in Leiden: courtyard hofjes, the oldest botanical garden, quiet quays and viewpoints you only find if you know where to look.
- Free in LeidenFree things to do in Leiden: wall poems, hofjes, the Burcht, the market, parks, churches and the beach — twelve ideas that cost nothing at all.
- Leiden in the rainRain in Leiden? Thirteen museums, covered canal cruises, brown cafés, bookshops and a compact centre turn a wet day into a good one.