WALKING TOUR LEIDEN WITH GUIDE
(STADSWANDELINGEN LEIDEN MET GIDS)
After Amsterdam, Leiden is considered as the second most important city in the Netherlands with regards to waterways and canals. This is all the more reason that a Walking Tour Leiden with Guide (Stadswandelingen Leiden met Gids) is not to be missed. The tour is conducted both in English and Dutch.
With more than 57 bridges in the inner city itself, it is a unique city which a visit should not be missed. Some Dutch call Leiden the little Amsterdam. Moreover this is the only Walking Tour Leiden With Guide (Stadswandelingen Leiden met Gids) in the Netherlands to be found done in two languages . By booking this Walking Tour Leiden with Guide (Stadswandelingen Leiden met Gids) directly through our website, you will be having more flexibility when booking. Alternatively you can book this Leiden Walking Tour through our page in Tripadvisor.
The walking tour Leiden with guide will be supplemented by valuable information on the city, cultural significance and the current trends. This Walking Tour Leiden also can be also combined with the Dutch windmill and polder walking tour, which is being done on the outskirts of the Leiden city. Leiden is also characterized by the world famous Leiden university buildings, mansions and museums with great exhibitions. For the travelers from the USA, Leiden has a special significance because of the Pilgrim fathers, who lived here in the 17th century.
Days and Times (On Request/ Op Aanvraag)
Starting and meeting point -Leiden Central Station near the Starbucks
Our usual pick up location for the Walking Tour Leiden with Guide (Stadswandeling Leiden met Gids) is in front of the Starbucks coffee shop at the front side of the Leiden central station. If any case , you are staying in a hotel within a 1 km zone from the Leiden central station, we are very happy to pick you up as well.
I am usually recognizable immediately because I will have a pram with me. You will be accompanied by myself and my little one in the pram. Hotel pickup is offered if you are staying in Leiden.
We will be visiting the Morspoort (Mors entrance) as one of the first attractions in the city. This is one of the old city entrances in Leiden out of the remaining 2 gates. This city gate was built in wood around 1611. The stone gate was built in 1669 after a design by W. van der Helm. The gate itself was built in an old-fashioned style for that time, the Dutch Renaissance time.
The next visit during this Walking Tour Leiden with Guide (Stadswandelingen Leiden) is the Molen de Put. This is one of the many windmills in the city of Leiden. We visit this windmill de Put from outside because of its close proximity to our route. The original windmill was built here in the year 1619 and after a fire in 1640 it was rebuilt to continue in its function till the 1800s. The Molen de put was predominantly used for grinding corn. In 1817 it was demolished and rebuilt again as a standard windmill in 1987 by the windmill association.
The famous artist in the Dutch renaissance period, Rembrandt, lived and was brought up in Leiden before he moved to Amsterdam. Therefore we visit the adjacent Rembrandts Place. There is an artwork of Rembrandt in this small square. The artwork is inspired by the self-portrait of Rembrandt in his Leiden studio from 1629. The young Rembrandt looks at the easel with a bronze relief of a self-portrait on it. Close to this self portrait there is another Rembrandt portrait made in ceramic as well.
The next stop we come across in this Walking Tour Leiden with Guide (Stadswandelingen Leiden met Gids) is the Beestenmarkt (animal square) . This is the square in the Leiden city, where the animals such as sheep, horses and cows are sold off to and brought from traders. As per now, it is a square with a beautiful water fountain where children love to play. No animals are being sold in modern times.
On the way to the city hall, we visit the Stadsgehoorzaal (one of the concert halls in the city) from outside. The Stadsgehoorzaal is a concert hall on Breestraat in the Dutch city of Leiden. In addition to the Big hall, the building includes a chamber music hall, the Aal market hall, and a historic hall. Also many weddings and parties are taking place in this stadsgehoorzaal of Leiden. During this trip, we view the Stadsgehoorzaal from outside. If the Stadsgehoorzaal is open you can take a look inside. Only the reception can be visited.
Leiden Walking Tour with Guide (Stadswandelingen in Leiden met Gids) then continues to visit the most famous and the oldest church in Leiden. St Pieters church is also the main and the most famous church in the city of Leiden. This church was built originally as a chapel in the year 1121. Later after many restorations and editions, it became the principle church in Leiden. During our city tour, we visit the church from outside. Most of the days , the church is open from 11 am-6 pm. The church visit is to be paid with Eur 5 optionally. We are visiting the church during this time from outside and monuments around it. We will explain you more about the history and the current activities of the St Pieters church during our tour from outside.
The Classical City Hall of Leiden is one of the medivial monuments in the city we visit. The Stadhuis (city hall) of Leiden is a classical building dating from the year 1596. On the way to the Hooglandse church from the St Pieters church, we will visit this old city hall of Leiden from outside. Visting inside can only be done during this Leiden walking tour. The city hall of Leiden was used as a meeting place and just as the Stadsgehoorzaal, as a wedding location. Currently the city hall is going through renovation (as at may 2023) and the temporary city hall is next to the central station.
The Hooglandse church is one of the tallest churches in Leiden and is about 71 m. That is our next visit during this Walking Tour Leiden with Guide (Stadswandelingen Leiden met Gids). The Hooglandse Kerk is a Gothic church building in the Dutch city of Leiden. Because the nave and tower are lower than the choir and transept, the church has a very characteristic silhouette. Moreover is this church used by the Protestant Church in the Netherlands for Sunday services. We visit this Hooglandse church from outside and if the church is open you can take a look inside. The guide of the Leiden walking tour will wait for you.
