Leiden Rhine (Leiden Rijn)
Leiden, Netherlands
Winding through Leiden’s historical quarter, the Leiden Rhine is one of the city’s most picturesque features. As it flows through the canal-woven old district, it splits into the Old Rhine (Oudje Rijn) and New Rhine (Nieuwe Rijn) before converging again, expanding the opportunity to cruise its waters, enjoy floating restaurants, and stroll cobbled banks past bridges, windmills, and gabled houses.
The basics
Walking by the Rhine is one of the greatest pleasures of visiting Leiden. Stretch your legs along particularly photo-worthy sections like the New Rhine; pause to admire sights like the Burcht van Leiden fort and nearby Morspoort city gate; and visit shops, museums, and boat-based restaurants and bars.
Alternatively, take one of the organized tours showcasing the Rhine and its linked canals. Book a private excursion to view highlights like the Beestenmarkt and the Hague City Hall (Stadhuis); join a canal cruise, take a self-guided walk, or download a self-guided app that combines sightseeing with clue-finding and puzzles.
Things to know before you go
The Rhine forms the backbone of central Leiden and is hard to miss.
Its waterfronts host many historical sights, including Leiden’s Stadhuis and Rembrandtplaats.
Canal cruises leave from Beestenmarkt, just steps from the Rhine riverfront.
The riversides are generally wheelchair-friendly, although most are cobbled.
How to get there
The Rhine is easily reachable on foot or bike from Station Leiden Centraal and other city-center transport hubs. From the station, turn right for the roughly 7-minute walk along Stationsweg and Steenstraat to Beestenmarkt before turning right at the waterfront. Alternatively, the Nos. 1, 3, 5, 6, and 183 bus lines link the station with Steenstraat/Beestenmarkt. Paid parking is available around the old city at places like Morspoort and Haagweg.
When to get there
The Leiden Rhine is beautiful from March to May when tulips and other flowers bloom along its riversides. Leiden is also vibrant in summer when the weather is perfect for strolling and waterfront alfresco dining. Otherwise, consider coming for early October’s Ontzet festival, when locals stage carnivals and parades. If you plan a short visit, perhaps sync it with Leiden’s popular Saturday and Wednesday street markets along the New Rhine.
Top attractions along Leiden’s Rhine
One Leiden must-see is the Burcht van Leiden, a medieval hilltop fort perched above the confluence of the Old and New Rhine. Admire the panoramic views over the city’s rooftops and Pieterskerk church from here before crossing the New Rhine to see the imposing Stadhuis. You can experience Leiden’s street market on Saturdays and Wednesdays; its riverfront stalls sell local specialties like raw herring and gooey, caramel-filled stroopwafels.
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