Leiden: City of Discoveries in the Heart of the Netherlands
Leiden: City of Discoveries in the Heart of the Netherlands
Nestled between Amsterdam and The Hague lies Leiden, a vibrant Dutch city that might just be one of Europe’s best-kept secrets. In this ‘City of Discoveries’, history, art, science, and charm converge in a way that is uniquely Dutch.
In the 17th-century town centre, with its beautiful canals, picturesque bridges and charming courtyards you will discover Leiden’s many remarkable stories. These include Molen de Valk, a museum that tells the story of windmill culture in the Netherlands. The brave resistance of the people of Leiden against the Spanish, the very reason that William of Orange gave the city of Leiden her own university, and which is celebrated in the streets every year with free herring and white bread, represents another fascinating story.
The compact size of the city makes it perfect for exploring on foot or by bicycle, with something new to discover around every corner. In these beautiful surroundings our social programme will connect you to peers across Europe. The excursions that accompany the congress are all close by, thanks to the country’s small scale.
Art and science
Founded in 1575, Leiden University is the oldest university in the Netherlands. It has been home to some of history’s greatest minds, including Christiaan Huygens, and Albert Einstein. Today, it continues to attract students, researchers, and innovators from across the globe.
Did you know the famous painter Rembrandt van Rijn was born in Leiden? You can follow in his footsteps through a walking tour that highlights locations where he lived, studied, and worked. Leiden is also the birthplace of the Netherlands’ first national museum, the Rijksmuseum van Oudheden, and hosts a number of other world-class institutions such as the Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Museum Boerhaave, which showcases the history of science and medicine, and the beautiful Hortus botanicus, the oldest Hortus of the country, lying in the middle of the city centre, to which you will have free entrance for one day.
We are looking forward to seeing you in Leiden.