Why Leiden Is One of the Most Underrated Cities in the Netherlands
Most visitors spend two or three days in Amsterdam.
Few realise that just 35 minutes away is a city that tells a completely different story about the Netherlands.
That city is Leiden.
If Amsterdam explains how the Dutch became wealthy, Leiden helps explain how they became one of Europe's leading centres of science, learning and innovation.
It's smaller, quieter and often overlooked.
But if your goal is to understand the Netherlands—not just tick famous landmarks off a list—Leiden is one of the most rewarding places you can visit.
A Smaller City with a Bigger Story
At first glance, Leiden doesn't try to impress you.
There are no crowds taking selfies on every bridge.
No endless queues outside museums.
No busy shopping streets filled with tourists.
Instead, you'll find peaceful canals, historic houses, hidden hofjes and students cycling to university.
It feels calm.
Almost ordinary.
But that's exactly what makes Leiden so interesting.
Many of the ideas that shaped the Netherlands began here.
The City That Refused to Give Up
In 1574, Leiden was under siege.
Food ran out.
Disease spread through the city.
Thousands of people died.
Many believed Leiden would fall.
Instead, the city survived.
The lifting of the Siege of Leiden became one of the defining moments in the Dutch struggle for independence.
Every year on 3 October, the city still celebrates that victory.
It's not just a local festival.
It's part of the story of how the Dutch Republic was born.
The Birthplace of Ideas
As a reward for its resistance, Leiden received something unusual.
Not money.
Not new walls.
A university.
Founded in 1575, Leiden University became the first university in the Netherlands.
It attracted scientists, philosophers, artists and students from across Europe.
People like Hugo Grotius, René Descartes and many others studied, taught or lived here.
Knowledge became one of Leiden's greatest exports.
Is Leiden Worth a Day Trip from Amsterdam?
Absolutely.
Leiden is only about 35 minutes from Amsterdam by direct train, making it one of the easiest day trips in the Netherlands.
Unlike Amsterdam, the historic centre is compact enough to explore almost entirely on foot.
You don't need to plan complicated routes or spend hours on public transport.
In one day you can walk along the canals, visit Pieterskerk, explore Leiden University, discover hidden hofjes and still have time to sit beside the Rapenburg with a coffee.
If you have two or three days in Amsterdam, adding one day in Leiden will give you a much broader understanding of Dutch history and culture.
More Than Beautiful Canals
Many Dutch cities have canals.
Leiden has something else.
Its canals tell the story of textile merchants, refugees, scientists and entrepreneurs.
Walk through the city and you'll see churches that survived the Reformation, merchant houses from the Dutch Golden Age and hofjes that quietly cared for people centuries before modern social housing existed.
One of my favourite things about Leiden is that it doesn't try to entertain you.
It doesn't compete for your attention.
Instead, it rewards curiosity.
The more you learn about the city, the more fascinating it becomes.
A Different Side of the Netherlands
Amsterdam tells the story of global trade.
Leiden tells the story of ideas.
The two cities are closely connected.
One became rich through commerce.
The other helped educate the scientists, thinkers, lawyers and leaders who influenced Europe.
Visiting both gives you a much richer understanding of Dutch history than visiting either city on its own.
One Recommendation
Many people visit Leiden for a few hours, take a few photos and leave.
I think that's a missed opportunity.
Leiden isn't a city you simply see.
It's a city you gradually begin to understand.
And once you understand Leiden, many other parts of Dutch history suddenly make much more sense.
That's why I created my walking tour.
Not to show every landmark, but to connect the people, events and ideas that shaped the city.
Whether you're visiting Leiden for one afternoon or exploring the Netherlands for a week, my goal is the same:
To help you understand the Netherlands, not just visit it.
If You Only Have One Day in Leiden
If your time is limited, don't try to see everything.
Leiden is best experienced slowly.
I would recommend spending your day like this:
Walk through the historic centre instead of rushing between attractions.
Visit Pieterskerk and learn why it became one of the city's most important landmarks.
Stroll along the Rapenburg, one of the most beautiful canals in the Netherlands.
Explore the area around Leiden University, where some of Europe's most influential thinkers studied and taught.
Step into one or two hofjes. They are peaceful, hidden places that many visitors walk past without noticing.
Finish your day at a café by the canal and simply watch the city go by.
Leave time to wander without a plan.
Leiden is one of those places where the atmosphere is just as important as the landmarks.
Why Leiden Often Becomes People's Favourite Dutch City
I've noticed something interesting.
Many people arrive in Leiden expecting to spend just a few hours here.
By the end of the day, they tell me they wish they had stayed longer.
Leiden doesn't overwhelm you with famous attractions.
Instead, it slowly reveals itself.
It's a city where history feels lived in rather than displayed.
The longer you walk, the more connections you begin to see—between the Siege of Leiden, the university, the Dutch Golden Age and the modern Netherlands.