Derek Ogilvie - Up Close and Personal
Join the world-renowned medium Derek Ogilvie for an extraordinary and personal spiritual evening in Leiden.
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Leiden
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City
ℹ️Practical info — Leiden
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🌤 Weather — 5 days
📍 Nearby
Sights nearby
💡 Tips
- Spot the famous wall poems written in various languages painted on buildings throughout the city.
- Visit the Hortus Botanicus, one of the oldest botanical gardens in the world, well-suited for a sunny afternoon.
- Take a canal cruise to see Leiden's historic center and numerous low bridges from the water.
- Check out the spirited street market along the Nieuwe Rijn canal on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
🍽 Food
🍽
Leidse Kaas
Sample Leiden cheese, known for its cumin seeds, at a specialty cheese shop in the center.
🍽
Bitterballen
Enjoy these savory deep-fried snacks with mustard on a canal-side terrace.
🍽
Poffertjes
Treat yourself to mini pancakes topped with powdered sugar and butter from a local market stand.
🛍 Shopping · 🧘 Quiet spots
🛍
Haarlemmerstraat
Shop along this extensive shopping street offering a mix of well-known brands and independent stores.
🛍
Pieterskwartier
Explore this appealing neighborhood with narrow streets full of antique shops, boutiques, and bookstores.
🧘
De Burcht
Climb this historic circular fort for a quiet spot with nice views over Leiden's rooftops.
🧘
Plantsoen
Relax in this beautiful 19th-century city park situated along the edge of the Singel canal.
Water temperature…
Highlights of 2026
1
Leiden is a historic city in the South Holland province, best known for hosting the oldest university in the Netherlands, founded in 1575. The city played a pivotal role in the Dutch Revolt, with the Siege of Leiden in 1574 serving as a landmark event in the struggle for independence. Architecturally, Leiden is defined by its 28 kilometers of canals and the second-highest density of historic buildings in the country after Amsterdam. As the birthplace of Rembrandt van Rijn, it has a profound artistic legacy. The Hortus Botanicus, one of the world's oldest botanical gardens, is notably the location where the first tulips were planted in Western Europe. Leiden is also famous for its 'Wall Poems' project, featuring over 100 poems from around the globe painted onto city facades. Today, the city is a premier center for life sciences, home to the Leiden Bio Science Park, which is one of the largest and most successful research hubs of its kind in Europe.
- Location: South Holland, Netherlands
- Top sights: Academisch Historisch Museum · Japanmuseum SieboldHuis · Huis ter Wadding
- Nearby: Voorschoten (5 km)
- Population: ~119.713
Best time to visit & climate
The most pleasant time to visit is Jun–Aug.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg °C | 4 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 13 | 16 | 18 | 18 | 16 | 12 | 8 | 5 |
| Rain mm | 77 | 66 | 55 | 38 | 56 | 62 | 78 | 87 | 70 | 79 | 81 | 85 |
Geography
Facts
- The university was gifted to the city in 1575 by William of Orange.
- There are 88 bridges crossing the extensive canal system in Leiden.
- Rembrandt van Rijn was born here on July 15, 1606.
- The Hortus Botanicus was established in 1590, making it one of the oldest in the world.
- The city celebrates the 'Leiden's Ontzet' (Relief of Leiden) every October 3rd.
- Leiden was home to the Pilgrim Fathers from 1609 to 1620 before they sailed to America.
Explore nearby
Notable places around
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Sights in the town Leiden (22)
Frequently asked questions
Who is the most famous son of the city?
The painter Rembrandt van Rijn was born in Leiden.
What is Leiden University known for?
It is the oldest university in the Netherlands, founded in 1575.
What is the Hortus Botanicus?
One of the oldest botanical gardens in the world.
Are there many canals in Leiden?
Yes, after Amsterdam, Leiden has the second-longest canal network in Holland.
What is the Rijksmuseum van Oudheden?
The national archaeology museum with a significant Egyptian collection.
Leiden: where is it located?
Leiden is located in South Holland, Netherlands.
Leiden: what is there to see?
Highlights include Academisch Historisch Museum, Japanmuseum SieboldHuis, Huis ter Wadding.
Leiden: when is the best time to visit?
The most pleasant time to visit is Jun, Aug.
Leiden: why is it worth visiting?
Leiden is a historic city in the South Holland province, best known for hosting the oldest university in the Netherlands, founded in 1575.
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