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Discover Leiden: From Pilgrims to Painters, Leiden's Golden Age
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Discover Leiden: From Pilgrims to Painters, Leiden's Golden Age

5.0· 25 reviews
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Run by a local guide · Holly Quinones

Booking is free; at the end you give the guide what you think is fair. Free cancellation at any time.

Discover the "Amsterdam of the South" on a peaceful walking tour of Key City. We’ll explore historic sites, hidden courtyards, and iconic bridges that have inspired travelers for centuries. Join us to uncover the soul of this beautiful city!

Duration
1 h 30 min
Destination
Leiden
Meeting Point
Molen de Valk
Provider
Holly Quinones

Description

Delve into Leiden's Golden Age! We will meet in the heart of Leiden, and a true landmark of the Netherlands, at the base of the central windmill, the last survivor of a city of sails. Our tour takes you through the Centrum, the shopping and market district, through the oldest University in the Netherlands, and through the quiet streets and hidden courtyards where the pilgrims planned their trip to the new world, after fleeing England.

In the 1600s, a single tulip bulb sold for the price of a canal house. The flower that started the famous tulip mania? It was planted right here in Leiden.

This walking tour follows a trail that takes you to that spot at the Hortus Botanicus & through the streets where Rembrandt grew up, sketched his earliest works, and became the painter who would define the Dutch Golden Age.

You will hear how Leiden's canals were built as moats to stop invaders & how those Invaders impacted the unique Leiden accent you'll still hear today. You'll understand why poems cover the city walls instead of graffiti, and how a group of English refugees, called the pilgrims, sheltered here before sailing, with nine future US Presidents among their descendants.

Includes

  • Professionals

Meeting Point

Molen de Valk

Get directions →

Traveler reviews

25 reviews in total · Opinions from people who already lived the experience

Tour en español

Estuvimos muy comodas en este tour. Fue muy conveniente que era en español y nuestro guia fue muy amable y carismatico

Andrea Pena · October 2026

Old Leiden pilgrims and painters

Enjoyable and informative tour. Pleasant and personable guide. Thank you.

Doris Seeb · October 2026

Informative and well designed walking distance

The walking tour was well designed and interesting. It was an interesting and relaxed morning. Thank you!

Lisa Chang · September 2026

Estupendo

El tour fue muy interesante, fuimos un grupo en inglés y español y el guía kos explicó todo en dos idiomas. Fue un recorrido muy interesante visitando rincones y espacios muy bonitos. Una visita muy recomendable

Gema Olivares · September 2026

Leiden tour

We had a wonderful tour through old Leiden this morning. Our guide was so professional in spite of feeling unwell, and having to work against rain and city preparations for Monument day. I felt that I gained a snapshot of Leiden and.left with an appreciation for a beautiful city. Some great stories thank you!!

Wendy Dragt · September 2026

Thank you!

We had a great tour and learned a lot about the history of Leiden! Jamie was very knowledgeable and provided answers to almost all of our questions. Highly recommend !

Leo Bruckmann · September 2026

Free tour

How does a free tour work?

Booking costs nothing. At the end, each person gives the guide what they think is fair for the experience: it's a voluntary tip.

Suggested in this destination: €10 to €15 per person (€20+ if it was exceptional)

  • • Pay in cash at the end of the experience.
  • • Bring small bills or change.
5.0(25 reviews)

Availability and Language

Free tour

★ 5.0 · 25 reviews

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