Naturalis Biodiversity Center

See, do, and experience: at Naturalis, young and old immerse themselves in the wondrous world of nature. In the impressive halls, you marvel at the richness of nature and biodiversity. The LiveScience is even free for everyone to visit. And did you know that Naturalis is located just a 10-minute walk from Leiden Central Station?

The forest of Suriname
The forest of Suriname

Naturalis has a new exhibition: The Forest of Suriname. Discover the nature of Suriname...

until 2 May 2027
Museum Night Leiden
Museum Night Leiden

Leiden's Museum Night is an annual event that makes the city buzz with cultural energy....

Saturday 6 June

Exploration the whole family can enjoy

Explore up to nine galleries showcasing nature's finest. Discover the first life on earth, experience the Netherlands in the Ice Age, and stand face-to-face with an African elephant. Step into a time capsule and experience prehistoric times with the Rexperience in the Age of the Dinosaur gallery. Trix the T. rex will be there too!

Live Science gallery

Meet Naturalis' scientists in person in the free-to-visit Live Science gallery. Ask them any questions you have about dinosaur bones, and watch them prepare real animals to be added to the collection. Check the Naturalis calendar to find out what is on at the Live Science gallery today.

Discover the Live Science gallery

Experience nature with all your senses. Walk under a gigantic shark, stand face-to-face with an African elephant and admire a huge swarm of butterflies.
Embark on a journey through surprising facts about reproduction in nature. Follow your nose, eyes and ears and marvel at the wildest stories. In The Seduction, nature bares all.
Can you spot the big five from the ice age? Dive into the lives of animals from 30,000 years ago. Scale models of the animals come into action through astonishingly realistic videos viewed through binoculars along the model.
Our crown jewel, Trix the T. rex, can be found with her contemporaries and other primal reptiles in the Dinosaur age gallery. Extraordinary projections and sounds transform them into creatures of flesh and blood. Scientists are available to answer your questions on weekends and during school holidays.