Frequently asked questions
- What should you see in Leiden?
- De Burcht, the canals, De Valk windmill, the Hortus botanicus, the wall poems and at least one of the thirteen museums.
- What can you do in Leiden when it rains?
- Museums such as Naturalis, the National Museum of Antiquities and Rijksmuseum Boerhaave, plus a covered canal cruise.
- Is Leiden good for children?
- Definitely. Naturalis, the city farm, a canal cruise and De Burcht are family favourites.
Continue exploring Leiden
- Leiden monumentsWith over 2,700 monuments in a compact centre, Leiden is packed with history. Discover the Stadhuis, Pieterskerk, De Burcht, De Waag and the city's almshouses.
- Canals & waterwaysLeiden has 28 km of canals and 88 bridges — second only to Amsterdam. Canal cruises, boat rental without a licence, water taxis and day trips by boat.
- Canal tours & boat rentalCanal tours in Leiden: guided cruises, renting an electric boat yourself, prices, departure points and the prettiest route through the historic centre.
- Walking routesFour self-guided walks in Leiden: the hofjes route, the wall poems route, the Rembrandt route and the canal ring loop — with distances, times and start points.
- De Valk windmillVisit Molen De Valk, the seven-storey working city windmill in Leiden: what to see inside, opening hours, tickets, accessibility and photo tips.
- De BurchtDe Burcht is Leiden's motte castle on an artificial hill between the Rhine branches. Free to enter, open daily, with the finest rooftop view in the city.
- Hortus botanicusFounded in 1590, the Hortus botanicus Leiden holds Clusius' tulip garden, tropical glasshouses, a Japanese garden and 300-year-old trees. Visitor guide.
- Wall poemsLeiden's muurgedichten project painted more than a hundred poems on city walls in dozens of languages. A self-guided route through the best of them.
- Historic LeidenLeiden's history in one page: the 1575 university, Rembrandt's birthplace, the siege of 1574 and the eleven years the Pilgrim Fathers spent here before the Mayflower.
- One day in LeidenA tested one-day itinerary for Leiden: morning museum, castle viewpoint, canal cruise, windmill and dinner by the Pieterskerk. Walking times included.
- Leiden with childrenLeiden for families: Trix the T. rex at Naturalis, the CORPUS body journey, self-drive electric boats, playgrounds and stroller-friendly routes.
- EventsLeiden's yearly events: 3 October celebration, Lakenfeesten, Leiden International Film Festival, Werfpop, Museum Night and the Christmas market. Dates and tips.
- Food & drinkThe best restaurants, terraces, lunch spots, breakfast places, bars and coffee bars in Leiden — with address, map and opening hours.
- Famous places in LeidenFrom the Breestraat and the Rapenburg canal to the Pieterskerk, the surviving city gates and the Singelpark: these are the places that give Leiden its…
- KeukenhofVisit Keukenhof from Leiden: bus 854 takes 25 minutes, tickets, opening dates, the best time for tulips and how to combine the gardens with a day in Leiden.