Category: General

Summer in Leiden! Yes, today – June 21 – summer officially started. Here are some lovely summer (and cooling down) recommendations. You certainly don’t have to get bored in (the area of) Leiden…

1.) Recreation area Vlietland

Just outside Leiden you will find Recreation Area Vlietland: a large lake surrounded by nature. If you can spend the summer somewhere good, it’s here. A real green oasis in the urban area of The Netherlands and also called the ‘Riviera of the Randstad (urban area)’ because of all the boats that you will find on the water here in the summer.

Of course you will find us here, Camping Vlietland. But around the lake and at on (Aquapark Storm) there is so much to do. For example, we are located next to Watersport center Vlietland (boat rental: canoes, pedal boats, motor boats, sloops and sailing boats) and Restaurant Waterfront, where you can enjoy a delicious meal with a view of the lake. In addition, there is an island on the water with a challenging climbing park, how cool!

There is also a SUP school and rental in the recreation area called Supmoves. You will also find two wonderful sandy beaches in Recreation Area Vlietland and there is also a naturist beach for enthusiasts. Do you like cycling, walking or running? Then you are in the right place, very nice around the lake (+- 7km)! Or just read a book in the shade under a large tree…

2.) City festival ‘De Lakenfeesten’

Perhaps the event in Leiden this summer: City festival de Lakenfeesten. In any case, the start of summer. From 23 to 25 June, all kinds of fun events will be organized throughout the city center.

On Friday June 24, the Lakenfeesten will kick off at 7:00 PM with the ‘Peurbakkentocht’: a parade of 50 decorated boats, where different groups of participants compete for the most creative boat. A true Leiden tradition!

Tip: Find a nice spot on the grass along one of the canals where the tour passes. Bring a dress, tapas snacks and a bottle of wine or 0.0% bubbles and you have a great evening!

On Saturday June 24 there will be a real dragon boat race in the city center. What is a ‘dragonboat’ I hear you ask? Also called simply a dragon canoe that can hold about 20 paddlers.

In the evening you can enjoy the Singelpark dinner (also on Sunday June 25). At various nice catering establishments in Leiden you can get the tastiest street food bites and enjoy a musical program while you also walk one of the nicest walking route in Leiden.

For beer lovers, there is also the Leiden Beer Festival that day. On one of the most beautiful squares in Leiden in front of the Hooglandse Church. Beer brewers, food trucks, music and Dutch New Herring: sounds good! On Sunday (June 25) the event will close with a free concert on the water at the Korenbrug.

3.) Leiden Rembrandt Days

The world-famous painter Rembrandt van Rijn – known for, among other things, ‘the Night Watch’ – was born in Leiden on July 15, 1606 in the Golden Age of our country. He is often associated with Amsterdam, but Leiden is the place where he developed into a great painter as a boy.

On July 8 and 9, the ‘Pieterskwartier’ (quarter of the historic centre) will be transformed into the Leiden in which Rembrandt grew up. Here you will find hundreds of actors and extras (all passionate volunteers) who dress in the spirit of the times to take you on a journey through time. Furthermore, the streets of this picturesque part of the city center will be decorated with props from the 17th century. There will be theatre, living paintings and music. In short: a special experience, free to visit.

Also nice to visit: the Young Rembrandt Studio. Rembrandt’s teacher Jacob van Swanenburgh lived in this 17th century house, from whom he learned the trade. This place is open all year round from Tuesday to Sunday from 12 pm to 5 pm and you can watch a short documentary about Rembrandt’s years in Leiden, among other things.

4.) Werfpop festival

This year with bands as Splendid, Hang Youth & Black Sun Empire. The (pop) music festival of Leiden exists for 30 years. You can find it on Saturday July 8 in the monumental park Leidse Hout, which is adjacent to the town of Oegstgeest.

The festival once started in the beautiful ‘Van der Werf’ park in the center of Leiden, but because the festival became increasingly popular, it has moved over the years to the Park Leidse Hout just outside the center and receives as many as about 22,000 visitors.

Check out the full program here and buy your entrance ticket for here €7.50, including a ‘pee-partout’ and an eco-cup for your drinks.

5.) Open Monumentsday

In Leiden you will be amazed at the amount of beautiful old monumental buildings, churches and the like everywhere. How nice is it that you can also take a look here on September 9 and 10 between 12:00 and 17:00?!

The historic city is number 4 in the Netherlands when it comes to the amount of monuments it has: no less than 3000!

This year there are 21 participating monuments that you can view and via the website you can find both a cycling and walking route along these monuments. Are you going to take a look at the old mill? The old city carpentry yard? Or the old University Library? Entrance is free.

6.) Food truck festival ‘Rrrollend’

The traveling food truck festival ‘Rrollend’ can be found this year at no less than 10 locations throughout the country, including on September 15, 16 and 17 in Leiden on the ‘Garenmarkt’. This is right at the beginning of the center if you come by bike from the campsite. Prefer to go by car? there is a beautifully renovated parking garage under this square.

The festival is free to visit and for €7.50 or less you can try all kinds of different culinary dishes at various truk’s. If that isn’t a nice way to end the summer…

Friday September 15: 4:00 PM – 10:00 PM

Saturday September 16: 13:00 – 22:00

Sunday September 17: 13:00 – 20:00

The camping season has started and the first rays of sunshine are back: the outdoor life in Leiden can begin. There are many fun things to do in the bustling city this spring. We’ve listed them for you below.

1.) Singelpark city walk (with guide)

Do you enjoy walking and would you like to discover Leiden in a fun way? then this is a super fun 5 kilometers walk that you should definitely not miss! The historic center of Leiden is surrounded by – the walk says it all – a ‘singel’ (aka canal), along which a beautiful walking path runs. During the route you will pass through beautiful old parks, you will see the beautiful architecture of Leiden all around you and there are plenty of nice places to make a stopover and have something to eat or drink. To stay on track, follow colored metal animals (like the goose below) or trees along the route. A map of this route can be found in our reception.

Extra fun! On Sunday, April 9th (2:00 pm – 4:00 pm) there is a special guided walk. Everything will be told about the history and development of Leiden. The guide asks for a contribution of €5 per person. You can register via singelparkgids@gmail.com. View their website for more information & or more dates for guided walks.

2.) Yoga and meditation at ‘De Tuin van de Smid‘ in Polderpark Cronesteijn

Polderpark Cronesteijn is a 15-minute bike ride from the campsite – near the center of Leiden. A green oasis with a hotspot: ‘De Tuin van de Smid’ (translated as: the Garden of the Blacksmith). Delicious food and drinks (100% vegetarian), building huts (for the kids) or playing in the cool outdoor playground with a view of the farm animals.

From April 16, you can do yoga and meditation here every Sunday morning from 9:30 am to 10:30 am. Costs are €12.50 and you can register via: dhanuryogaleiden@gmail.com. The yoga mats are ready! 🙂

3.) Carbootsale at ‘Brasserie Buitenhuis‘

On every first Saturday of the month, a great car boot sale takes place in the parking lot on the edge of the Valkenburg lake (on the other side of Leiden from the campsite). A wonderful free flea market from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm to stroll over and then, for example, to end with a nice coffee or lunch at the nice Brasserie Buitenhuis. A restaurant with a beach bar feel made from greenhouses.

The flea market can be visited this spring and summer on the following Saturdays: 6 May, June 2nd, July 1st. August 5 and September 2nd.

4.) Spring Beer Walk

Do you like a nice spring beer? but also a little balance in life? in other words: walking off the beer calories again 😉 then this spring beer walk on Sunday 23 April (2:30 pm – 6:30 pm) is just the thing for you!

Fresh spring beers from small breweries from the Netherlands are served in 12 cafés in Leiden. Participation costs €36.50 per person. For this you will receive a unique beer glass, a route description along the twelve participating cafes, a stamp card, a nice gift and 6 beer vouchers. A suitable snack is served with every beer. More info? check here.

5.) Market on King’s Day

On Saturday 27 April we celebrate the birthday of our king and there is plenty to do in Leiden. You can roam the city looking for beautiful second-hand treasures on rugs in front of the doors. The flea market is from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Those who still feel like a festive closing can, for example, continue to Koning Tribute: a festival on the Garenmarkt with a Queen, Abba or Doe Maar cover band on the program.

6.) Leiden courtyards festival

Enjoy different types of live music in an intimate setting on Monday 29 May (during the Pentecost weekend) in

the most atmospheric courtyards during ‘Leidse hofjes Festival’. Two other special locations for the festival will be the Pieterskerk and the old Town Hall. Think of string quartets, classical and jazz.

Entrance is based on ‘pay-what-you-can’. It is necessary to book though because there are only a certain number of tickets available.

7.) Museum Night Leiden

How nice to go to a museum in the evening? on Saturday evening 3 June it is possible during – already the 15th edition of – the Museum Night in Leiden!

Participating museums include Corpus, Museum Volkenkunde, Rijksmuseum Boerhaave, National Museum of Antiquities, Museum de Lakenhal, Observatory, Hortus Botanicus, Japanmuseum Sieboldheus and Molenmuseum de Valk.

A very nice program has been put together full of experiments, lectures, performances, and workshops. View the full program here.

8.) Speedo swim in Leiden

On Sunday 11 June, the ‘Maresingel’ will be transformed into one large open-air (competition) swimming pool. That’s one that you can cross off the to-do list: swimming in a canal! But of course also very nice to watch competitive and recreational swimmers who cover different distances through the canal. Participate? You can register here.

9.) Midsummer Night in Hortus Botanicus

At the transition from spring to summer, the Midsummer Night takes place in the Hortus Botanicus on the longest day of the year (June 21). This evening you can enjoy various performances, music, art, science and flowers that will smell wonderful in the oldest botanical garden in the Netherlands. There are also various drink and food trucks. Recommended!

The evening lasts from 7:30 pm to 11:00 pm. Look here for tickets.

Staying overnight?

Our campsite is located right next to a lake in Recreation Area Vlietland, 15 minutes by bike from the center of Leiden. A perfect base if you want to visit one of these fun events. We have several camping and RV spots. And for those who do not have their own camping equipment or don’t fancy to set up a tent, we have very nice newly renovated Trekkershuts. View availability here.

There is also plenty to do at the lake. For example, there is an island on the water where you can climb different courses high between the trees, there is a boat rental where you can rent sloops, motor boats, pedal boats and canoes, among other things, one of the largest aqua parks in the world (open from May 17) and restaurant overlooking the water.

the campsite is also within cycling distance of Voorschoten, Wassenaar, Katwijk, Noordwijk, Delft and The Hague. You don’t have to be bored for a moment with us because there is so much to do in the area!

More tips for the best activities in Leiden and the surrounding area?

View our personal recommendations on the map of the Leiden area.