Leiden: Historical and Fun City Tour in German, English or Dutch

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About the activity

The most beautiful corners of Leiden's old town, the youth of the painter Rembrandt van Rijn, important scientific discoveries, Leiden and America, the history of the tulip: you will learn everything!

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Live guiding

Dutch, English, German (depends on selected option)
Duration

2 hours
Includes
- You will get a city tour in which you will see the most important landmarks on foot in about 2 hours, have a lot explained about their history, and also get information that is not generally known! I do all this in a professional but also personal way with a little humor.
- Admission fees for museums or the botanical garden are not included.

Highlights & Description

Highlights

The most beautiful canals and charming inner courtyards
Birthplace of one of the world's greatest painters: Rembrandt van Rijn
Important scientists and inventions, including Albert Einstein in Leiden

Description

We start at the edge of the Old Town, where the historic city gate "Morspoort" is located opposite the "Morspoortgarage" parking lot. We walk past the ethnographic "Weltmuseum" in the direction of the historic harbor in the 'Oude Rijn' (Old Rhine), where we have a very nice view and also learn a lot about the world-famous painter Rembrandt van Rijn, who was born here. You will hear the reason why a cute old Dutch house is painted pink. We continue on to the most beautiful canal in the Netherlands, the "Rapenburg." And you will get an answer to questions such as: What did the German physician and collector Philip Franz von Siebold have to do with the Leiden Japan Museum? And what influence did he have on your garden? But also: What role did the Dutch royal family play in Leiden, the oldest university in the Netherlands, and in the Rapenburg? Where did the "Royals" live, and where did one of them meet a partner, and in which old pub did one of them earn the nickname "Prinz Pils"?
In the "Academie Quarter," we come to the city's former main church, the "Pieterskerk." At this location, you will learn about two special groups of refugees: the Huguenots from France and the "Pilgrim Fathers" from England, where they lived and went to church. Here, you will also learn about the connection between 7 American presidents and Leiden. Continue to the Latin School from 1600, where you can also have a picture of yourself painted for free. We also visit the studio where Rembrandt learned to paint. Then we'll head to the university building where famous professors made important discoveries and where Albert Einstein was often a visiting professor. You will hear all about the Eighty Years' War and major disasters in Leiden. We will walk past the historic town hall with the longest Renaissance façade in the Netherlands to the old castle tower – the "Burcht van Leiden" – from which we will have a beautiful view over the city. We end the city tour here, in the middle of the city, where there are so many nice shops, cafés, restaurants and terraces and from where you can see the beautiful, vibrant city for yourself. Of course, you'll also get tips for landmarks!

Meeting point

Leiden: City tour in English

Leiden: City tour in Dutch