Attractions in Leiden

A medieval shell keep built on an artificial mound in the 11th century, one of the oldest fortifications in the Netherlands and the geographical heart of Leiden. The circular walls of the Burcht sit at the confluence of the Oude Rijn and Nieuwe Rijn, the point around which the entire city grew. Climb the ramparts for panoramic views over Leiden’s rooftops, towers, and canals. The surrounding small park is a pleasant place to sit. Free to enter at all times and central enough to combine naturally with a walk along the Nieuwe Rijn. One of the most important medieval landmarks in South Holland.

A magnificent Gothic church dating from the 14th and 15th centuries, one of the finest Gothic buildings in South Holland and the spiritual centre of historic Leiden. The Pieterskerk is the burial place of Rembrandt’s parents and many Leiden University professors. It is directly connected to the Pilgrim Fathers story: this is the church where John Robinson, spiritual leader of the Pilgrim congregation, is buried, and where many Pilgrims worshipped before sailing on the Mayflower. Regular organ concerts, classical music events, and temporary exhibitions make it a living cultural venue rather than a pure tourist attraction. The Pilgrim Museum at Kloksteeg 16a is directly alongside. See also the museums guide.

Consistently described as one of the most beautiful canals in the Netherlands and one of the most distinguished streets in the country. The Rapenburg is lined with monumental 17th and 18th century canal houses, Leiden University buildings including the Academy Building, the Rijksmuseum van Oudheden, the Hortus Botanicus, and the Japan Museum SieboldHuis. The canal itself, with its perfect reflections and tree-lined banks, is one of the most photographed streets in South Holland. A walk along the full length of the Rapenburg from the Pieterskerk end to the Hortus Botanicus takes about fifteen minutes and covers more of Leiden’s history than any other single walk in the city.

The ceremonial heart of Leiden University, the oldest university in the Netherlands founded in 1575 by William of Orange as a reward to the city for its resistance during the Spanish siege. The Academy Building stands on the Rapenburg directly in front of the Hortus Botanicus and is one of the finest examples of Dutch academic architecture. The building hosts degree ceremonies and public lectures. Leiden University alumni include Rembrandt, René Descartes, and multiple Dutch royals and prime ministers. The historic Senate Hall and other rooms can be visited on guided tours.

The two best-preserved of Leiden’s original city gates, both dating from the 17th century. The Morspoort on the western side of the Singelpark offers a view of the old Morspoort and the windmill De Put from the terrace of the adjacent cafe. The Zijlpoort on the northern singel sits in a parkside setting. Together they are the finest visible reminders of Leiden’s historic fortifications and a natural stop on the Singelpark walking and cycling route. Both are free to view from outside.

Two of the finest outdoor markets in South Holland, spreading across several canal-side squares and streets in the heart of Leiden. Fresh produce, fish, cheese, herring, stroopwafels, flowers, clothing, and artisanal goods fill the Botermarkt, Vismarkt, Aalmarkt, and the quays of the Nieuwe Rijn on both market days. The Saturday market is larger and more atmospheric. Both are genuinely Dutch and popular with residents rather than tourists. The canal-side setting along the Nieuwe Rijn is one of the finest outdoor market environments in the Netherlands. An excellent combination with a coffee at Aan de Rijn or 30ml on the Botermarkt.

The most important annual event in Leiden, commemorating the relief of the Spanish siege on 3 October 1574 when William of Orange broke the siege by flooding the polders and sailing a fleet of ships to the city. Shops and offices close. The city fills with herring and hutspot (the food the starving citizens ate when the Spanish abandoned their camp). Fireworks, processions, fairs, and music fill every square and canal. The event is one of the most authentic local festivals in the Netherlands, attended overwhelmingly by Leiden residents rather than tourists, and gives a genuine insight into the city’s fierce local identity and historical pride. Non-negotiable for expats living in Leiden.

An annual festival around 15 July, the date of Rembrandt’s birth in Leiden in 1606, that transforms the historic centre into a 17th-century living city. Street performances, historical costumes, special museum openings, guided tours, and theatrical events bring Rembrandt’s Leiden to life. One of the most immersive historical festivals in South Holland and a good occasion to visit the Young Rembrandt Studio and Museum De Lakenhal when special programming is offered.

Leiden has 35 hofjes, hidden courtyard almshouses tucked behind street facades throughout the historic centre. Founded from the 14th century onward by wealthy citizens as charitable housing, the hofjes are among the most beautiful and secret spaces in Leiden, each with a different character, garden, and history. Many are still inhabited and open to respectful visitors during daylight hours. A hofje map is available for €3.50 at the tourist information office. Self-guided exploration is rewarding but a guided tour provides the historical context that transforms the experience. One of the most distinctive aspects of Leiden that sets it apart from other Dutch cities.

Over 120 poems in more than 50 languages are painted directly onto the walls of buildings throughout Leiden, part of an ongoing project that has been running since 1992. The poems range from ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics to contemporary Dutch verse, from Shakespeare to Rumi, from ancient Chinese to Surinamese Sranantongo. Finding them as you walk through the city is one of the most enjoyable incidental activities in Leiden: the poems appear unexpectedly on gable ends, courtyard walls, and side streets. An unofficial self-guided poem walk map is available online.

Leiden’s canal network is one of the finest in the Netherlands, with over 28 kilometres of waterways connecting the Rapenburg, Nieuwe Rijn, Oude Rijn, Galgewater, and the city’s many side canals. Guided boat tours lasting 45 to 75 minutes give a completely different perspective on the historic city, passing under bridges so low that passengers must duck, through water gates, and alongside canal houses and garden terraces. Several operators run tours from spring through autumn. The In Den Doofpot private canal boat for groups of four to twenty is the finest private canal dining experience in the Netherlands.

A 9-kilometre green ring created by citizens following the line of Leiden’s old singel fortification canals, completed in 2018 after a decade of community effort. The route passes the Morspoort and Zijlpoort city gates, the Van der Werffpark, the Merenwijk farm park, the windmill De Put, and continuous stretches of waterside walking alongside the Singelpark’s planted meadows and orchards. One of the best urban green routes in South Holland and a perfect introduction to Leiden’s neighbourhoods. See the parks guide for the full green spaces coverage.

The largest Gothic church in Leiden, dating primarily from the 15th century, with a soaring nave and a distinctive unfinished tower that has defined the Leiden skyline for six centuries. Concerts and events take place regularly inside. The Hooglandse Kerk sits in its own square surrounded by some of the finest historic architecture in the city, with the adjacent De Twee Spiegels jazz cafe on Nieuwstraat making it a natural combination. Free to enter during opening hours.

Leiden’s grand Renaissance city hall on the Breestraat, rebuilt in the 17th century after a fire and one of the most impressive civic buildings in South Holland. The building faces the Nieuwe Rijn and its elegant facade is one of the most photographed in the city. The interior houses a collection of MC Escher works tucked away in the council chambers. The ground floor restaurant Trattoria Italiana City Hall operates in a remarkable historic setting. The combination of the Stadhuis, the Vismarkt, and the Nieuwe Rijn canal in front makes this one of the finest public spaces in Leiden.