Leiden

Museums & exhibitions

Explore Leiden from a different angle on a comfortable canal cruise. Learn about the city from your captain, see the Leiden City Hall from the water, and pass under many of Leiden's famous bridges. Board your cruise in the city center and begin your adventure through Leiden's 17 miles of canals. Cruise through the historic city center and pass the City Hall, the luscious Hortus Botanicus Garden, and the Museum De Lakenhal. As you explore the canals of Leiden, cruise under many of its 88 bridges. Sit back and enjoy the view while your captain tells you fascinating facts about Leiden and the sights you pass. If you wish to enjoy a drink or a snack as you cruise, you can purchase one at the departure point before boarding.

See the many canals of Leiden on board a private boat. Cruise to your own destinations, with no itinerary, and yourself as captain to direct the adventure. First, board the boat with your friends and family. Depart from the dock and begin your exploration of the 88 canals that encircle the city center. Then, dock at one of the many parks along the water, and discover why some call the city Singelpark. Hop back on board the boat and continue around the 28 kilometers of canals. Finally, you'll arrive back at the dock and climb back on dry land with a new appreciation of the city. Leave your cruise with a better understanding of the canals, your boating skills, and Leiden.

Discover the unique plant collections of the Hortus Botanicus Leiden in an hour and a half with this admission ticket. Enjoy flowering bulbs in the spring or take a relaxing walk under the colorful ancient monumental trees in the autumn, the garden is worth visiting during any season. After exchanging your ticket at the Hortus Botanicus Leiden front gate, begin your adventure through the oldest botanical garden in the Netherlands at your own pace. Witness the historical garden founded in 1590 where the first tulips in Europe were grown. Walk through the Front Garden and admire the recently built glasshouse, the Clusius Garden, and the Japanese Garden where the historical exchange of plants between Japan and the Netherlands can be admired. Imagine yourself in the jungles of Southeast Asia while being surrounded by the collection of tropical orchids and more. Unwind in the gardens and have a relaxed walk under the monumental trees. See a collection of carnivorous plants, rare tropical orchids, and seasonal favorites such as the Jadevine (flowering in March-April), the Victoria amazonica (flowering June-September), and the Chinese Lotus (flowering in July). Be in awe of a collection of almost thirty trees, some of which are over a century old and be sure to visit the souvenir shop and Grand Café before your experience is over.

Space Expo is a space museum in Noordwijk. Nestled just behind the sea and dunes, the museum offers an in-depth look at the fascinating world of space travel. From designing and building space missions on Earth to launching them into space, you can explore every aspect of this thrilling field. One of the museum's highlights is the original Soyuz capsule used by astronaut André Kuipers on his space journey. Additionally, you can explore a life-size model of the International Space Station (ISS) and experience what it's like to live and work in orbit. Exclusive Tours and Activities On weekends and during school vacations, Space Expo offers exclusive tours aboard the Space Train to visit the next-door European Space Agency (ESA). This unique opportunity provides an inside look at the cutting-edge work being done in space technology and exploration.

This tour is all you need to discover Leiden! It takes you past hidden gems and famous landmarks, all while telling you the great stories of these places. Learn where Rembrandt went to school, why Leiden is the city of keys and many more facts, all told through immersive stories in both text and audio. This tour is created by Awesome Places, a content creator with over 400 thousand followers on different social platforms, and a local to the city of Leiden. This tour will take you through the most awesome places in Leiden. Now, get ready to embark on an amazing journey through the beautiful city of Leiden.

Open your view of the world with a visit to Wereldmuseum Leiden – the National Museum of Ethnology – a museum about people located just 5 minutes from Leiden's central station. Housed in a historic building, the museum is home to large successful exhibitions, small surprising exhibitions for the enthusiast, innovative public programs, leading scientific research, and many international collaboration projects. After entering the museum, explore the exhibitions that take you from Bali to Guatemala, from Oceania to the Arctic, and from Mecca to Djenné. Come to see how, despite all our differences, we are all in one sense the same: human beings. Feel your sense of the world expand as each object in the collection tells a human story. Be touched by stories that embody universal human themes, such as celebration, mourning, decoration, prayer, love, and conflict.

Discover the most beautiful places in Leiden in 50 minutes from a cruise on our comfortable boat. We sail electrically and therefore wonderfully silently. We will sail you along the most beautiful places in the city with small groups. Enjoy the lively city center with its parks, terraces, observatory, the Hortus Botanicus, university, rich history, and more. During the tour, your skipper will tell the most special stories about the city with verve, in Dutch and English. Would you prefer information in another language? This is possible with an audio app. In the case of less favorable weather, the boat will be covered and, if necessary, heated. So even in autumn and winter, you can enjoy our comfortable canal tour through Leiden. If you would like to enjoy a drink while sailing, you can purchase them at the departure point before boarding.

Discover the highlights of the beautiful city of Leiden through this app-based self-guided walking tour crafted by a local. The tour introduces you to this compact and beautiful city steeped in history, telling you about the significance of canals, windmills, "hofjes" and more. You will visit Rembrandt's schools, a church and a garden of great historical significance and pass by the oldest university in the Netherlands. This walk is perfect for those who are in Leiden for a day and want to discover popular spots and hidden gems at their own pace. You can pause the tour at any point where you wish to enter and explore more. The tour begins conveniently at the scenic canal of Galgewater, ends at the De Burcht with great views of the city. It takes between 1 and 2 hours to complete, depending on your pace. You can download the Tourific app and tour to your mobile device (following instructions sent to you after booking) and access it when offline. Take advantage of an easy-to-follow map to guide you seamlessly from one location to the next. Need to take a break or explore a particular stop? You can simply pause your tour and resume when you’re ready. We're confident you'll love our tour! Not satisfied? Write to us and will offer you a full refund So what are you waiting for? Book this self-guided tour today!

Enjoy Leiden in the most unique and sporty way in search of the most beautiful and nicest places. Do you have experience? Get on immediately and paddle past many sights in 2 hours. Is it the first time? Then you start with an instruction at the harbor office to quickly master the supping. After the instruction, your tour begins to the many beautiful places that the city has to offer. The city where Rembrandt was born with the Academy Building where he studied, the canals, city gates, bridges, windmills and the courtyards along the water.

Experience the smooth and hassle-free connection that the NS trains offer between Central Amsterdam and Central Leiden with NS trains. Say goodbye to expensive taxi fares, which can typically cost around 70 euros, and the inconveniences of buses or private transfers. If you will eventually be heading back to your original destination, you can purchase a round-trip ticket, saving money and time. Board a modern train to leave your worries behind, and arrive on time at your destination. Staying connected with your friends with free WiFi. All our trains are wheelchairs and bicycles accessible and have a toilet on board. The train is the fastest connection between Amsterdam and Leiden. It departs every 10-15 minutes from 00:05 to 23:41 (it might be different for early and late trips) and the travel time is around 40 minutes.