Leiden has a rich history, with many museums, theatres and a charming city centre.<\/p>\n

Leidens Ontzet (The Relief of Leiden)<\/h2>\n

In 1572, Leiden joined the Dutch revolt against the Spanish and was subsequently besieged. The people of Leiden put up a fierce resistance and managed to break the siege. So much so that the Spanish fled on 3 October 1574. This is still celebrated every year during Leidens Ontzet. The entire city centre turns into one big festival, with stages, performances, food stalls, market stands, a large fair and a whole lot of gezelligheid (Dutch cosiness). A unique experience not to be missed!<\/p>\n

Leiden University<\/h2>\n

Leiden is home to the oldest university in the Netherlands. As a reward for driving out the Spanish, William of Orange granted the city Leiden University. It became one of the most important universities in Europe and still exists today.<\/p>\n

Museums<\/h2>\n

With no fewer than 2,800 monuments, Leiden is practically one big open-air museum. Take a city walk and pass by the Hooglandse Kerk, courtyards, the Marekerk, windmill De Valk, and the Zijlpoort.<\/p>\n

Prefer to visit an exhibition inside? There\u2019s something for everyone, with a wide variety of museums such as Naturalis, the World Museum, Corpus, and the National Museum of Antiquities.<\/p>\n

Here<\/a> you can find a full overview of all museums.<\/p>\n

Theatres & cinema’s<\/h2>\n

The oldest still-operating theatre in the Netherlands is located in Leiden on the Oude Vest. The Leidse Schouwburg and Stadsgehoorzaal<\/a> offer a varied programme of theatre, music, dance and cabaret. The Leiden Cabaret Festival is also held here every year.
Theater Ins Blau adds to the city’s cultural scene with fresh and original performances.<\/p>\n

Trianon on the Breestraat is the oldest cinema<\/a> in Leiden and highly recommended. With its characteristic interior and nostalgic atmosphere, it’s the perfect place for a night at the movies. You can also visit the modern Lido or the smaller-scale Kijkhuis, which focuses on arthouse films and documentaries.<\/p>\n

Food & Drinks<\/h2>\n

Leiden offers an incredible variety, with hundreds of restaurants and caf\u00e9s! In the city centre you\u2019ll find countless culinary hotspots and cosy bars along the canals. Perfect after a day of sightseeing or shopping in the nearby streets.<\/p>\n

What’s new<\/h2>\n

Want to know what\u2019s happening in the city? Head to the Visit Leiden website<\/a> to discover what\u2019s on.<\/p>\n

Curious about what else there is to do in the region? Take a look at the Region of Surprises\u00a0website<\/a>!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Leiden has a rich history, with many museums, theatres and a charming city centre. Leidens Ontzet (The Relief of Leiden) In 1572, Leiden joined the Dutch revolt against the Spanish and was subsequently besieged. The people of Leiden put up a fierce resistance and managed to break the siege. So much so that the Spanish… Lees meer ><\/span><\/a>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-420","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n