Leiden offers all the ingredients to make your meeting a success. Whether it concerns courses, seminars, symposiums, fairs, presentations or congresses, Leiden has a range of both historic and modern locations. The small scale of the city offers a unique setting for your business meetings and also diverse options for relaxation. In this brochure you get acquainted with a number of venues, each with its own character. Also, you will find several additional facilities, like restaurants, hotel accommodation, transport and organisations which offer partner programs. All these companies recommend their services to make your event both productive and memorable!

History within reach
When walking through Leiden its rich history still seems very much alive. The University's Academic Building, the Waag and the Burcht, the stately mansions lining the famous Rapenburg, the beautiful churches Pieterskerk and Hooglandse Kerk and the 35 almshouses each tell a part of Leiden's history. This is where Rembrandt was born and developed his painting skills, this is where doctor Boerhaave taught and where Clusius brought the first Dutch tulips into flower.

Twelve museums all close together
Leiden has twelve museums, all well worth a visit. The priceless and unique collections on show there enjoy international fame. The National Antiquity Museum, with its Egyptian, Greek and Roman collections, the National Museum for Cultural Anthropology with its treasures from different cultures, the Boerhaave Museum, unveiling the history of medical science, the De Lakenhal Municipal Museum, exhibiting works by Rembrandt, Lucas van Leyden and Jan Steen and of course Naturalis, the National Presentation of Natural History, are only a selection of all the treasures the Leiden museums have on display.

Centre of science
Leiden's atmosphere is largely determined by its university. In 1575 Leiden was the first city in the North of Holland to be given a university in reward for the courageous behaviour displayed by its citizens during the Spanish occupation. The university has developed into a world-famous centre of science, while its many students contribute to the lively and convivial atmos-phere in the city.

Lively shopping and entertainment centre
The old city centre of Leiden boasts a wide variety of shops. Moreover, every Wednesday and Saturday there is a general market along the water. This market has been in existence for nine centuries! Leiden's culinary aspect is reflected in the wide variety of restaurant and bars on offer. The Leiden Jazz Week in January, the ten-day summer festival the Leiden Lakenfeesten in July and the celebration of the Relief of Leiden on 2 and 3 October are but a few examples of the many events that take place throughout the year.

At the heart of the Randstad
Situated between Amsterdam, The Hague and Utrecht, Leiden is easily accessible by any means of transportation. Parking is no problem! And the coast, an extensive lake district and the always colourful bulb fields in spring are just around the corner, so to speak.