Region of Surprises

The Key to Discoveries has a region full of surprises and a sea of opportunities

You have probably already discovered for yourself that Leiden is a true City of Discoveries. But combining Leiden with a visit to the surrounding villages and the nearby coast also makes for a pleasant surprise! Relaxing cycling routes, great places to stop for a tasty bite to eat, the best beach restaurants or a tour of the country estates... discover them all in our Region of Surprises.

Read all about it at streekvanverrassingen.nl!

Katwijk
Katwijk
Oegstgeest
Oegstgeest
Wassenaar
Wassenaar
Voorschoten
Voorschoten
Warmond
Warmond

Visit the largest nativity scene in the region. You can even walk through it.
Visit the largest nativity scene in the region. You can even walk through it.
The largest nativity scene in the entire region is built every year in Leiden's St. Joseph Church.
Thursday 26 December
Exhibition The Orphans Speak
Exhibition The Orphans Speak
The exhibition 'The Orphans Speak' provides an insight into the daily lives of the orphans who lived in the orphanage...
until 26 March 2025
Exhibition: Mapuche - A community on the move
Exhibition: Mapuche - A community on the move
The Mapuche are the original inhabitants of the area now covered by the states of Chile and Argentina. The exhibition...
until 20 July 2025
Leiden is celebrating - 450 years of parades
Leiden is celebrating - 450 years of parades
Celebrating together is timeless. Parades are the perfect form for this. They provide solidarity and a shared identity....
until 2 March 2025
Enchanted by GOLD
Enchanted by GOLD
Wereldmuseum Leiden will celebrate the premiere of its new exhibition in December; Enchanted by GOLD.
until 26 October 2025
Triceratops: the herd
Triceratops: the herd
Triceratops horridus: this giant herbivore is an icon of the dinosaur era. And extremely rare too, only a handful...
until 31 August 2025
Bronze Age: Fire of Change
Bronze Age: Fire of Change
The major retrospective exhibition Bronze Age – Fire of Change is about a fascinating period in our history. The...
until 16 March 2025
Exhibition: Closer to the Black Hole
Exhibition: Closer to the Black Hole
Mysterious places in the cosmos, which swallow everything and from which nothing, not even light, can escape. These...
until 5 January 2025
The beauty of imperfection
The beauty of imperfection
Three guest exhibitors plus nineteen members of the Leidsche Modialen exhibit in the Stadstimmerwerf in Leiden.
until 19 January 2025
Far away and yet close, the war in Ukraine
Far away and yet close, the war in Ukraine
The photo exhibition “Far away and yet close, the war in Ukraine” in Leiden City Hall provides an image of the...
13 January 2025 until 5 March 2025
Exhibition Paint Plants in the Old University Library
Exhibition Paint Plants in the Old University Library
Working members of the Association of Botanical Artists portrayed all kinds of plants that were used in the Netherlands...
31 October 2025 until 20 December 2025