Leiden
A university city of canal-ring streets, Rembrandt's birthplace and science museums, about 18 km from The Hague and 45 km from Amsterdam.
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Leiden is a historic university city in the province of South Holland, on the Oude Rijn in the western Netherlands. It lies about 18 km northeast of The Hague and about 45 km southwest of Amsterdam. Leiden University, founded in 1575, is the oldest university in the Netherlands, and with Leiden University of Applied Sciences the city has around 35,000 students. The historic center sits inside a 17th-century canal ring, and it is the country's second largest town center of that age, after Amsterdam's.
Heike Kamerlingh Onnes liquefied helium here in 1908, and Pieter van Musschenbroek invented the Leyden jar here in 1746. The museums include Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Rijksmuseum Boerhaave and the SieboldHuis, which shows the Japanese collection of Philipp Franz von Siebold. Allow one day for the center and canals and a second for the museums and the Hortus Botanicus, founded in 1587. The Leiden International Film Festival is held each October, and the 3 October festival marks the end of the 1574 siege.
Leiden in five
- Pick your museum before you arriveLeiden's museums include Naturalis, Rijksmuseum Boerhaave, Museum De Lakenhal, Wereldmuseum Leiden and the Rijksmuseum van Oudheden. One or two fill a day; do not try five.Visit Leiden
- Know the Rijksmuseum van Oudheden hoursThe national antiquities museum on the Rapenburg is open daily 10:00 to 17:00 plus Thursday evening, and is closed on 1 January, 27 April, 3 October and 25 December.Rijksmuseum van Oudheden
- Expect a closed museum on 3 OctoberLeiden marks the Relief of Leiden on 3 October, and the Rijksmuseum van Oudheden is closed that day. Book rooms early if your trip falls around the date.
- Try a canal tour on a dry dayBoat tours on the canals are one of the main things to do in the center. Choose a dry day and check operators on the Visit Leiden site.Canal tours
- Combine Leiden with Haarlem or The HagueLeiden sits on the NS line between Haarlem and The Hague, so a night here splits a trip evenly. Check the route on 9292 for your date.
Things to do in Leiden
See all attractions in Leiden
Need to know
- Airport
- Schiphol (AMS), reached by train with a short ride
- Getting there
- NS trains from Amsterdam, Schiphol, Haarlem and The Hague
- Getting around
- On foot and by bike; the center is small
- Best base
- The old center near the Rapenburg and the station
- Time needed
- 1 day; 2 with a second museum
Weather by month
- Rainy days
- Best
- Good
- Mixed
- Poor
- JanuaryRain15 rainy daysHigh7°Low4°Cold, greyJanuaryRain
Poor
- High
- 7°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 84 mm
- Rainy days
- 15
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold, grey
- FebruaryRain13 rainy daysHigh8°Low4°ColdFebruaryRain
Mixed
- High
- 8°
- Low
- 4°
- Precipitation
- 73 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cold
- MarchRain13 rainy daysHigh10°Low5°CoolMarchRain
Mixed
- High
- 10°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 65 mm
- Rainy days
- 13
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Cool
- AprilPartly cloudy10 rainy daysHigh13°Low7°Spring, bulbsAprilPartly cloudy
Good
- High
- 13°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 59 mm
- Rainy days
- 10
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Spring, bulbs
- MayPartly cloudy11 rainy daysHigh16°Low10°Mild, long daysMayPartly cloudy
Best
- High
- 16°
- Low
- 10°
- Precipitation
- 62 mm
- Rainy days
- 11
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, long days
- JuneRain12 rainy daysHigh20°Low14°Long daysJuneRain
Best
- High
- 20°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 72 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Long days
- JulyRain14 rainy daysHigh21°Low15°Warm, busyJulyRain
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 15°
- Precipitation
- 76 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, busy
- AugustRain14 rainy daysHigh21°Low16°Warm, busyAugustRain
Best
- High
- 21°
- Low
- 16°
- Precipitation
- 76 mm
- Rainy days
- 14
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Warm, busy
- SeptemberRain12 rainy daysHigh19°Low14°Mild, calmerSeptemberRain
Best
- High
- 19°
- Low
- 14°
- Precipitation
- 91 mm
- Rainy days
- 12
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Mild, calmer
- OctoberRain16 rainy daysHigh15°Low11°3 October festivalOctoberRain
Mixed
- High
- 15°
- Low
- 11°
- Precipitation
- 109 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
3 October festival
- NovemberRain17 rainy daysHigh11°Low7°Wet, windyNovemberRain
Poor
- High
- 11°
- Low
- 7°
- Precipitation
- 99 mm
- Rainy days
- 17
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Wet, windy
- DecemberRain16 rainy daysHigh8°Low5°Dark, short daysDecemberRain
Poor
- High
- 8°
- Low
- 5°
- Precipitation
- 83 mm
- Rainy days
- 16
- Snowy days
- 0
- Days with storms
- 0
Dark, short days
Average daily high and low in Leiden, 2016–2025. Rainy day: 1 mm of rain or more.
Right now in Leiden
Local time, today's weather and the exchange rate, refreshed through the day.
11
- Feels like
- 8°
- Humidity
- 80%
- Wind
- 20 km/h
- Chance of rain
- 100%
Leiden
10:57 PM
Monday, November 2
- Today13°9°100%Monday: Drizzle. High 13°, Low 9°. Chance of rain 100%.
- Tue11°6°4%Tuesday: Drizzle. High 11°, Low 6°. Chance of rain 4%.
- Wed10°5°0%Wednesday: Cloudy. High 10°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Thu8°3°0%Thursday: Clear. High 8°, Low 3°. Chance of rain 0%.
- Fri8°1°1%Friday: Clear. High 8°, Low 1°. Chance of rain 1%.
- Sat8°0°10%Saturday: Fog. High 8°, Low 0°. Chance of rain 10%.
- Sun10°5°16%Sunday: Drizzle. High 10°, Low 5°. Chance of rain 16%.
Updated 07:20 PM local time · Powered by WeatherAPI.com · Weather data by Open-Meteo.com
Day trips by train
- Haarlema short train ride northFrans Hals and Teylers museums in a similar canal town.Read the guide
- The Haguea short train ride southMauritshuis and Scheveningen beach.Read the guide
- Keukenhof areaa short ride in seasonThe bulb-field region near Lisse is a spring trip; the planner has the 2027 dates.Read the guide
Before you go to Leiden
We may earn a commission. It never decides our picks.
Rules for Leiden, checked
- Rijksmuseum van Oudheden: open daily 10:00 to 17:00 plus Thursday 19:00 to 22:00; closed 1 January, 27 April, 3 October and 25 December.Checked Oct 3, 2026 · Source
Plan around Leiden
Another canal town and the Frans Hals Museum
Read the guideThe HagueMauritshuis and Scheveningen beach
Read the guideDelftDelft Blue and Vermeer's town
Read the guideSouth Holland & ZeelandLisse and the Keukenhof season sit next door
Read the guideAmsterdamThe capital, a short train ride north
Read the guideTourist taxes in EuropeHow local taxes affect hotel totals
Read the guideAll of the NetherlandsLeiden between Haarlem and The Hague in the wider trip
Read the guideLeiden FAQ
Is Leiden worth visiting?
Yes, for canals, courtyards and a strong museum cluster, with fewer crowds than Amsterdam. It is best for one or two museums and a canal walk, not for a long checklist.
How many days do you need in Leiden?
One day covers the center and a museum. Stay two if you add a second museum or use Leiden as a base for Haarlem and The Hague.
What is Leiden known for?
The oldest university in the Netherlands, its canals, and museums such as Naturalis and the Rijksmuseum van Oudheden. The city also celebrates 3 October each year.
Is the Rijksmuseum van Oudheden open every day?
Almost. It is open daily 10:00 to 17:00 with a Thursday evening, but it is closed on 1 January, 27 April, 3 October and 25 December.
Is Leiden a day trip from Amsterdam?
Yes, by NS train. It pairs well with Haarlem or The Hague if you want a canal-town day without staying in the capital.