Location: Leiden
Top Things to do in Leiden
Top 10 Things to do in Leiden, The Netherlands
Home to the Netherlands’ oldest university and the birthplace of Rembrandt, Leiden also served as a several-year stop-off between England and the New World for America’s Pilgrim fathers in the early 17th century. Today, lovely Leiden boasts the second-largest Dutch city center after Amsterdam. The National Museum of Antiquities has an impressive collection of Egyptian artifacts. The Hortus Botanicus, established in 1590, was the site of the planting of Holland’s first tulip bulbs in 1593.
Restaurants in Leiden
1. Rijn (Rhine)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 132 reviews
Reviewed By MijnlieverdFH - Amsterdam
So nice place for a relaxing walk by the river Rhine. It is nice and beautiful scenery with lots to see and the restaurants were there to answer your need for food. We saw some taking a cruise but we preferred to stroll. We did not go far but have to stop sometime. In between was a nice opportunity for a souvenir shopping.
2. Wall Poems of Leiden
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 176 reviews
Reviewed By Wilwa_Tikta - Yogyakarta, Indonesia
one of many I enjoy while visiting Leiden is its wall poems, it is kind a city of living poetry book, as there are more than 110 poems in so many corners of the city. it really adds to my awareness of many other great poems; and because of the success of this city, now many other cities in the Netherlands follow the same projects. it is even being launched the similar project in Sofia, Paris, and Berlin.
3. Molenmuseum de Valk
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 395 reviews
Visitors to the Valk Windmill learn about the history, life, skills and techniques of the 18th-century Dutch miller.
Reviewed By PerthGirl50 - Perth, Australia
Wow how amazing is this place, i absolutely loved it. I got there early and climbed up the steep stairs ( love a challenge ) and was lucky enough to catch the guy setting up the sails. I have to warn those with vertigo that when you get to the platform you can see through some of the slats so that gave me jelly legs but it was well worth it for the experience. People working there were really nice and it was great to look inside and climb up a windmill. You can use your museumkaart here.
4. Museum Volkenkunde
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 439 reviews
Museum Volkenkunde is a museum about people housed in a historic building just five minutes' walk from Leiden's central station. A huge totem pole greets visitors as they enter the museum through the garden. Museum Volkenkunde presents regularly changing Exhibitions and its permanent display features objects from eight different cultural regions. Objects that all have a story to tell about humankind.
Reviewed By cojotent - Delft, The Netherlands
Love this place for many years, regular updates, very rich collection, always an adventure for children and adults. Particularly the Indonisian collection is fantasticHi Cojotent, Thank you for your kind words! Great to hear you have had a nice day at Museum Volkenkunde and that you liked our Exhibitions. We hope to welcome you again soon! Best, Veerle
5. National Museum of Antiquities (Rijksmuseum van Oudheden)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 393 reviews
The National Museum of Antiquities is housed in an old monumental building and ‘Begijnhof’. It is the Dutch centre for archaeology. A large part of the collection consists of objects related to ancient Egypt. Unique is the two thousand year old Egyptian temple in the central hall of the museum. Besides ancient Egypt, the museum covers the Middle East, the Classical world and the early history of the Netherlands. The entire collection consists of more than 80,000 objects, including statues of Roman emperors, Etruscan tomb finds and mummies.
Reviewed By Stefano S - Camponogara, Italy
The Royal Museum of Antiquities has been a real surprise. The Egyptian exposition at the ground floor is huge and very complete; there are artefacts, statues and a wonderful collection of painted sarcophagi. At the first floor, the section dedicated to the Etruscans is little but complete. The Greek ceramic collection begins at the second floor with the archaic period: Minoan and Mycenaean geometrical style potteries, and follows at the first floor with the classic period presenting some fantastic vases with red figures or black figures (mostly coming from the collection of Lucien Bonaparte prince of Canino). There is a little section dedicated to the Near East and an interesting roman selection with some helms and masks typical of the roman troops assigned to the German limes. The temporary exhibition about Nineveh worth the visit. At the last floor, there is a complete exposition of the archaeological findings in the Netherlands from the Prehistorian age to the Middle age. The entrance ticket for adults is 12,50 €. I recommend a visit without any hesitation.
6. De Markt
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 112 reviews
Reviewed By Robert937 - Rotterdam, The Netherlands
On Wednesdays and Saturdays along Nieuwe Rijn canal where it has been for ages for a reason. Farmers used to transport their produce by boat to the center of Leiden. If you cycle through the Leiden hinterland you can still observe the ingenious system of waterways that used to compose Holland's 16th century transport system. It was hardly possible to go from A to B over land and certainly not with a load. You would get stuck in some marshy piece of land somewhere.
At the time the center of Leiden was virtually one big marketplace with designated spaces for different goods. Some names of canals still are referring to it: boter markt, vis markt, aal markt.
The whole area is worth visiting during all days of the week as there are many cozy cafés and restaurants with friendly well-behaved 'indigenous' people. One wonders why foreigners flock to Amsterdam. For a Dutch city experience Leiden is a much better alternative.
7. Botanical Gardens (Hortus Botanicus)
Overall Ratings
4 based on 568 reviews
Reviewed By Samantha P - Halifax, Pennsylvania
This is an amazing place!! Every bit of it was exceptional!! The huge lily pads... the great views outside... the indoor rainforest... all super!!
8. National Museum of Natural History (Naturalis)
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 446 reviews
Reviewed By bas k - Amsterdam, The Netherlands
The main Natural History exposition is closed until 2018 due to renovations and expansions of the museum.However a small expo on poison in the natural world can be seen during the closure of the main building.Dr Freek Vonk; a biologist and Television presenter has composed this expo on his speciality; Poison in the Natural world-"Natural History of poisonous animals and plants".I enjoyed looking at a small selection of poisonous snakes and spiders.The large King Cobra is not a snake often seen in live collections of zoological Gardens.
9. De Burcht
Overall Ratings
4 based on 478 reviews
Reviewed By Plymouth - Plymouth, Devon
Any visit to Leiden should include ascent to the Citadel wall walk because many buildings stand out from the vantage point. The Hooglandse Kerk (church) is close by and looks even more impressive from the walls of the Burcht. In another direction, the former orphanage is visible and an interpretation panel advises that orphans were useful as cheap labour, in times past, with the occasional need to import from other countries! Can this be correct or was something lost in translation?
10. Museum De Lakenhal
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 114 reviews
Museum De Lakenhal is closed till spring 2019 because of restauration and renewal. Visit our website lakenhal.nl/renewal.
Reviewed By KMF43 - Houston
A mix of armaments, old tile, fabric, paintings, and a hidden church--tied together by the history of Leiden.
The story of the Siege of Leiden (1573-4) is told on the upper floor. Although not everything is translated, the videos are pretty informative. I also found the wool fabric (Laken) interesting--you can touch some and imagine what all those grim looking people wearing black in the paintings were feeling. There is also an altar piece from a "hidden church."
I think this is worth a visit before walking around Leiden.
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