Leiden between canals, history and science

Get to know Leiden through its canals, its history of science and its many historic sites. The historic city centre has a total of 28 kilometres of canals and singels. There are also walking tours, museums, the botanical garden and the Matilo Archaeological Park. The city offers a range of ways to spend your stay—from exploring by water to visiting the botanical collection.

Canals, walking tours and cycling routes

If you want to explore Leiden on foot, you can follow the Route van Ontdekkingen. The city walk has 28 stops and can be followed on a smartphone. The Leidse Loper passes numerous historic monuments and striking viewpoints. The first route focuses on its stops and digital guidance, while the second highlights historic buildings and views. On the water, visitors can rent a boat or book a canal cruise.

For a cycling trip, there is the 33-kilometre Duin-&-Zeeroute through Leiden, Wassenaar and Katwijk. This gives you several different ways to explore: a city walk with stops, paths past monuments, trips along the canals and a cycling route through three towns. Which one suits your day depends on whether you want to experience Leiden on foot, from the water or by bike.

Historic sites and hofjes

Leiden has almost 2,800 monuments, including hofjes, windmills, churches and city gates. De Burcht is one of the oldest surviving examples of a castle in the Netherlands. After climbing its many steps, you can enjoy a view over Leiden. Another historic site is the Matilo Archaeological Park, located where the approximately 2,000-year-old Roman frontier fort of Castellum Matilo once stood.

The hofjes are also part of the cityscape: Leiden has 35 of them. Many are still inhabited and most can be visited. As access conditions may vary from one hofje to another, check the information on site and be considerate of the residents. Another link to the past is Leiden’s oldest parish church, consecrated in 1121 as a chapel of the count’s court.

Discover science and nature

Rijksmuseum Boerhaave presents the history of Dutch science; its collection covers five centuries of research and innovation. The museum offers De Dokterstas, a free family activity for children aged 8 to 12. Check before your trip whether it is currently available.

Naturalis has nine exhibition halls featuring topics from the earliest life on Earth and the Dutch Ice Age to dinosaurs and T. rex Trix. In the free-to-enter LiveSciencezaal, visitors can meet scientists and watch them prepare real animals. As public access and the programme may change, it is advisable to check availability before your visit.

At Hortus botanicus Leiden, a variety of garden themes come together: these include a Japanese and a Mediterranean themed garden, centuries-old trees, and greenhouses with orchids, carnivorous pitcher plants and ferns. For more than four centuries, plants from around the world have been collected, cultivated, admired and studied there. The Hortus Grand Café uses vegetables, fruit and tea from its own garden; check this offering before your visit, as the café menu may change.

Getting there and choosing a hotel

Leiden city centre is about a 15-minute walk from Leiden Central Station. Free public bicycle racks and parking facilities are available at the stations and in the city centre; some are monitored. The Waagstalling at Aalmarkt 22 offers free monitored bicycle parking. Its entrances are on Breestraat and Aalmarkt.

When choosing a hotel, consider your planned visits alongside how you will get around. The approximate walking time from the central station to the city centre and the bicycle parking options offer practical points of reference. Compare the location of your accommodation with the places you plan to visit during your stay.

Discover more destinations: Leiden, Oegstgeest, Schoonhoven, Zwijndrecht, Molenwaard, Liesveld, Nieuwkoop, Hardinxveld-Giessendam.

For the overview of the wider region: South Holland.