Leiden is located in the province of South Holland on the Old Rhine river, and is home to the oldest university in the country, the University of Leiden.

In my opinion one of the most authentic, yet buzzing cities in the Netherlands. Filled with historic alleys and cobble-stoned streets, quaint canals with beautiful historic houses with unique facades lined with flowers, several museums and many terraces by the water!

The inner city of Leiden is surrounded by an 8 km long ring canal, which makes it even more atmospheric. And you can easily walk from one side of the historic center to the other in just 30 minutes.

To most tourists this might sound like Amsterdam, however this lesser known city is much more quiet, equally beautiful and also perfect for a citytrip or staycation, just a short drive from Amsterdam (airport)! It's also home to the Leiden Observatory, the oldest university observatory in the world.