🇳🇱Leiden

Meet T. rex Trix at Naturalis Biodiversity Center

Naturalis is genuinely one of the best natural history museums in Europe, and children love it. The star attraction is T. rex Trix, one of the most complete T. rex skeletons ever found. Add 40 million objects in the collection, interactive displays, and a building designed to wow, and you have a full half-day right here.

Climb inside Museum De Valk windmill

This 18th-century windmill is still fully functional, and you can explore the miller's living quarters floor by floor before climbing up for views over the city. It is right next to the train station, making it an easy first stop when you arrive. Kids love the creaking wooden stairs and the sheer scale of the machinery.

Climb De Burcht for rooftop views

De Burcht is a 12th-century hilltop keep sitting right in the middle of the city, and the climb up to the circular ramparts gives you a brilliant panoramic view over Leiden's rooftops and St. Peter's Church. Entry is free, the walk up is short, and it is the kind of place that makes kids feel like they are actually inside a medieval story.

Explore Hortus Botanicus Leiden

The Netherlands' oldest botanical garden has been growing here since 1590, and it is a genuinely peaceful place to let younger kids roam while older ones take in the rare plants, greenhouses, and serene pond. The garden was originally used to grow medicinal plants for Leiden University's medical students, which is a fun fact to share on the way in.

Discover ancient Egypt at the Rijksmuseum van Oudheden

The National Museum of Antiquities houses an extraordinary collection of Egyptian, Greek, and Roman artefacts, including the full Temple of Taffeh, an actual ancient Egyptian temple gifted to the Netherlands. Walking your family through it feels genuinely cinematic. The Egyptian section alone is worth the visit.

Visit Museum De Lakenhal

This beautiful Golden Age building tells the story of Leiden through the centuries, including works by Rembrandt, who was born in the city in 1606. It is a well-paced museum that does not overwhelm, and the building itself is as interesting as the collection inside. A good choice for older children who enjoy art and history.

Walk the Leidse Loper and find the hidden hofjes

Leiden's self-guided walking route takes you through romantic alleyways, past the historic Zijlpoort gate, and into the hofjes, hidden courtyard gardens tucked behind ordinary-looking doors. It feels like a treasure hunt, and the kids will enjoy pushing open gates to see what is inside. Pick up a map from the tourist office or download the route before you go.

Take a boat tour along the canals

Leiden's canals are branches of the Old and New Rhine, lined with gabled houses and old bridges, and seeing them from the water gives you a completely different perspective on the city. Boat tours are a relaxed way to cover a lot of ground with younger children, and most tours are short enough to keep everyone happy.