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The Atlas Obscura Guide To Leiden

41 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Leiden, Netherlands

Updated February 1, 2022

Unusual Attractions in Leiden

Leiden, Netherlands

Museum Boerhaave

A former plague hospital turned medical museum.

Leiden, Netherlands

Leiden's Floating Christmas Market

A market built atop boats is one of the few floating holiday markets in Europe.

Leiden, Netherlands

Hortus Botanicus Leiden

A 'living museum' in Leiden, the oldest of its kind in the Netherlands.

Leiden, Netherlands

The Hidden Eschers of Leiden

Tucked away in the Leiden city hall are a group of works by famed artist MC Escher.

Leiden, Netherlands

Leiden Observatory

Devious political maneuvering and four ancient, working telescopes are central to the world's second-oldest observatory.

Leiden, Netherlands

Temple of Taffeh

An ancient Egyptian temple sits within a modern European museum.

Leiden, Netherlands

Leiden’s Wall Formulae

Science meets wall art to highlight the beauty of famous mathematical equations.

Leiden, Netherlands

The Wall Poems of Leiden

The works of poetry's biggest names grace the walls of the city of Leiden, all carefully painted by hand.

See All 41 Things To Do in Leiden

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Science 9 History 6 Einstein 5 Collections 5 Hidden 4 Universities 4 Physics 4 History & Culture 3 Art 3 Memorials 3 Archaeology 2 Monuments 2

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Stories About Leiden

How a Long-Planned Pandemic Exhibit Adapted to COVID-19

A Dutch science museum was set to showcase the horrors of contagion. Then came coronavirus.

by Keely Sullivan

December 8, 2020

Lists Featuring Leiden

The House of the Temple.

Statue of George Washington

Novus Ordo Seclorum: 14 Places to Unearth Masonic Secrets

Your best bets for gaining insight into the real history of Freemasonry.

Including Zedekiah's Cave, Masonic Lodge of the Andaz Hotel, and House of the Temple

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