LEIDEN, CITY OF DISCOVERIES

Known as Sleutelstad (“City of Keys”) because of the two red keys on its coat of arm, Leiden is known for its rich history. It has the oldest university in the Netherlands, a large historic city centre with canals, almshouses, windmills, churches and city gates, as well as 13 museums. 

Leiden is a lively city offering a wealth of cultural events and festivals, especially when it comes to music, dance and theatre. It has a wide range of special shops in an attractive setting. Besides the usual national chains, there are many speciality boutiques in narrow streets and alleys, making it a delight to explore on foot.

A 6.5-kilometre ring of canals has surrounded Leiden’s historic centre since the seventeenth century and De Meelfabriek lies on its banks. The ‘Friends of the Singelpark’ Foundation is working with Leiden city council to connect these historic landscapes into a single continuous park. The canals are also connected to large water and recreational areas just outside the city. 

Leiden is home to Leiden University, Webster Leiden Campus and the University of Applied Sciences Leiden. Leiden University was founded in 1575 and is the oldest university in the Netherlands. Since 1983 the American Webster University has also had a campus in Leiden. The Leiden University of Applied Sciences has more than 6,000 students and is located in Leiden Bio Science Park, which is also home to various research institutes and biotechnical companies. The Leiden University Medical Center is one of the largest university hospitals in the Netherlands and conducts a great deal of scientific research