Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All the Netherlands Leiden Kabouterhuisje van Elmer (Elmer's Gnome House)
AO Edited

Kabouterhuisje van Elmer (Elmer's Gnome House)

A tiny house showcases the busy life of a local gnome.

Leiden, Netherlands

Added By
CoolCrab
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Kabouterhuisje van Elmer (Elmer’s Gnome House)   CoolCrab / Atlas Obscura User
  CoolCrab / Atlas Obscura User
adjusted to the cold   jschrlmr / Atlas Obscura User
  CoolCrab / Atlas Obscura User
Kabouterhuisje van Elmer (Elmer’s Gnome House)   CoolCrab / Atlas Obscura User
Kabouterhuisje van Elmer (Elmer’s Gnome House)   CoolCrab / Atlas Obscura User
Kabouterhuisje van Elmer (Elmer’s Gnome House)   CoolCrab / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

The city of Leiden is home to many historical buildings and objects such as the old observatory, a floating Christmas market, and is home to Einstein's Sink. One of its newest monuments is a very tiny one, the house of a Dutch Kabouter or gnome. 

The house appeared between the roots of a tree from 1833, initially as a small red door but eventually, a small front yard, a little garden, and even a special marker that denotes monumental buildings in the city were added. 

The unique creation was implemented during the summer of 2020. It's unknown who built it or if it is one person, a group, or just random people maintaining it. The house seems to be in a constant state of flux. Things are moved, new plants appear, and sometimes a small garden gnome statue can be spotted near the house. The house is a popular topic on local social media, and many of these changes are shared by the community. Despite this, it is still a mystery who is behind the creation.

The agency in charge of monumental buildings in the city was amused by the house and its little monumental shield. They decided to honor the site and added it to the database of monumental buildings under the number "1024x," canonizing it as a protected structure in Leiden. The house even became part of the 2021 open monument days, where it was featured as one of the highlighted monuments that people could visit that day.

Related Tags

Architecture Models Outsider Art

Know Before You Go

The house is freely accessible, maybe you can even see the kabouter. 

Community Contributors

Added By

CoolCrab

Edited By

jschrlmr

  • jschrlmr

Published

October 4, 2021

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • https://www.erfgoedleiden.nl/collecties/erfgoedregister/zoek-monumentenregister/detail/fdbab4ce-87d4-e3b5-a122-8b46f09bc547/media/?mode=detail&view=table&q=1024&rows=1&page=1
  • https://openmonumentendagenleiden.nl/nl/informatie-monumenten/huisje-van-elmer
  • https://www.erfgoedleiden.nl/nieuws/1189-monumentaal-kabouterhuisje-in-het-plantsoen
  • https://indebuurt.nl/leiden/genieten-van/8-x-de-bijzondere-avonturen-van-de-kabouters-in-het-plantsoen~97761/
Kabouterhuisje van Elmer (Elmer's Gnome House)
Leiden
Netherlands
52.153724, 4.502553

Nearby Places

'Bagage'

Leiden, Netherlands

miles away

Graveyard Groenesteeg

Leiden, Netherlands

miles away

The Wall Poems of Leiden

Leiden, Netherlands

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Leiden

Leiden

Netherlands

Places 45
Stories 1

Nearby Places

'Bagage'

Leiden, Netherlands

miles away

Graveyard Groenesteeg

Leiden, Netherlands

miles away

The Wall Poems of Leiden

Leiden, Netherlands

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of Leiden

Leiden

Netherlands

Places 45
Stories 1

Related Places

  • 'Djerbahood'

    Hara Sghira Er Riadh, Tunisia

    'Djerbahood'

    An awesome blend of traditional architecture and street art.

  • Olafur Eliasson: The Parliament of Reality

    Red Hook, New York

    Olafur Eliasson: The Parliament of Reality

    A journey to a hand-crafted island involves a trip across this lattice bridge.

  • Eastlink Hotel - Callum Morton

    Dandenong South, Australia

    Hotel Eastlink

    A roadside hotel that you can’t stop at. 

  • Models in Casa Reforma

    Guadalajara, Mexico

    Casa Reforma

    Inside one of Guadalajara's oldest houses, you can find puppets and foam models of the city's missing buildings.

  • Old Hill Street Police Station

    Singapore

    Old Hill Street Police Station

    Rainbow shutters decorate this former police station.

  • Facade of the house.

    Puebla, Mexico

    La Casa del que Mató al Animal

    The scene of a legendary hunt is displayed on this building's facade.

  • Bandundu Water Jazz Band

    Tervuren, Belgium

    Bandundu Water Jazz Band

    A jazz band formed by African water animals in the heart of Flemish Brabant.

  • Pavillion Le Corbusier

    Zurich, Switzerland

    Pavillion Le Corbusier

    Constructed along the shores of Lake Zurich, this pavilion is a walk-through work of art.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.