Things to do in

Leiden

Combine a visit to the Keukenhof Gardens with a beautiful spring cruise lasting approximately 1.5 hours on one of the great ships of Rederij van Huls. Journey along the beautiful 'Kagerplassen', also known as the 'Amsterdam Lakes' During the cruise you can enjoy the beautiful views, historic windmills, and typical Dutch villages in the famous bulb region. The boat is covered and offers an open deck as well, providing great photo opportunities, so be sure to bring your camera. After the cruise, go to the Keukenhof Gardens which are located only 10 minutes (by car) from the cruise departing point. With the Keukenhof ticket you will have direct access to the gardens where you'll see plenty of blooming tulips.

Your morning or afternoon in Leiden will start at your hotel or if you travel to Leiden from elsewhere at the train station. Set off at a relaxing pace to make sure you really get to see, feel and learn all about this town. The most important sights that your private guide will show are the oldest university of the Netherlands, where King William Alexander graduated just like most other members of the royal family. Have your camera ready to take a picture of the 900 year old Saint Peter Church. Find out where Rembrandt was born and where he first started to paint. Admire the 16th century built town hall of Leiden. Discover the wall poems spread throughout the city. These poems are written in many different original languages and can be discovered anywhere. After a great walk through the city of Leiden with your private guide, sit back and relax aboard the boat for a canal cruise of Leiden. Sailing through Leiden in an hour-long boat trip, you experience the very rich culture of the city: many monuments, museums and almshouses are situated on the water. You will also sail past the Botanical gardens, birthplace to the Dutch Tulip. In the wintertime the canal cruise is replaced with a visit to the Museum Lakenhal, the most important art museum in town.

Enjoy a full-day excursion to the picturesque cities of Delft, Leiden, The Hague, and Haarlem from Amsterdam. See historic architecture, visit the birthplace of Rembrandt, and discover some hidden gems with your guide. Have a comfortable trip from your accommodations in Amsterdam on your way to your first stop in Delft. Take a walking tour, passing canals, Medieval buildings, and churches. Learn about the history of William of Orange. Next, take in the mix of modern and old architecture in The Hague. See the impressive Houses of Parliament and walk the historic streets of this administrative capital. Visit Leiden; an extraordinarily beautiful hidden gem and birthplace of Rembrandt. Take in the fabulous Market Square and stroll the alleys and courtyards on your last stop in Haarlem.

Open your view of the world with a visit to Museum Volkenkunde – 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.