Rich culture

Surprise after surprise

Museums
Museums
Monuments
Monuments
Cycling & walking
Cycling & walking

From the Dutch masters to picturesque villages, from modern art to theatres and castles. Breathe in the rich sense of history during a walk or cycle-ride past waterways, flower fields or to the coast. Where else could you find such varied surroundings, full of lively places that cherish their own authentic character? One thing is for sure: you will never get bored.

What are you going to do?

You can soak up the region’s culture throughout the year. Which hidden gem will surprise you today? Want to explore one of the many museums, or would you rather discover the region by bike or on foot? And if you like historic buildings, you're in luck. You’ll have more than enough choice for a cultural day out!

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This region is packed with museums. Whether you’re a fan of art, cars, dinosaurs, mummies or science, there is always an interesting exhibition just around the corner.

Corpus: a journey through the body
Corpus: a journey through the body

Go on a journey through the most unique place in the world: the human body. Jump on the tongue, walk through the ear and marvel at the brain.

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Katwijks Museum
Katwijks Museum

Discover a unique collection of paintings by painters who were drawn to the artists’ colony in Katwijk.

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Museum Voorlinden
Museum Voorlinden

Museum Voorlinden in Wassenaar is a museum for modern and contemporary experiential art.

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National Museum of Antiquities
National Museum of Antiquities

Meet the ancient Egyptians, Greeks and Romans, among others. Discover the mummies, too, and walk around a real Egyptian temple.

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Museum Oud-Rijnsburg
Museum Oud-Rijnsburg

Housed in a renovated 18th-century building, the exhibition at the Museum of Rijnsburg is split into 3 periods: from c. 750 AD to the present day.

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Cycling in the region

Cycling in the region
Walking routes

Walking routes

Young Rembrandt

Did you know that Rembrandt was born in Leiden? Learn all about the young master-painter during a visit to the Young Rembrandt Studio on Langebrug 89. A unique stop on the Leiden Rembrandt Route, you will learn all about his life during the 7-minute ‘video mapping’ experience.

Have your portrait sketched at the Latin School in the Pieterskwartier, where Rembrandt went to school. Look through the window and he will sketch your portrait.

Monuments

Churches, castles, windmills, hidden courtyards and country houses: these are just a selection of the treasures that await you in the Region of Surprises. Every historic building has its own story to tell. Discover the most impressive historic buildings, from classical to contemporary.

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Like a king

If you’re seeking castles, there’s no need to go abroad. The view from the Leidse Burcht (the old keep) is a popular attraction that’s free of charge, for example, but it’s just one of the stately buildings to visit.

Imagine yourself back in the 17th century during a visit to Oud-Poelgeest Castle, the former home of Professor Boerhaave. You can also visit Wittenburg Castle and Castle Duivenvoorde, which is almost 800 years old. The old walls are a romantic testament to a glorious past!