Courtyards of Leiden

Leiden has no fewer than 35 courtyards. Anyone unsuspectingly opening a door between two houses can suddenly find themselves standing in a beautiful historic courtyard! Every courtyard has its own story to tell. Many of the courtyards are still inhabited and, to be honest, who wouldn't want to live here? Almost all the courtyards can be visited, but please respect the residents’ privacy.

Courtyard walk

You can buy a courtyard walking tour map for € 6.95 at the VVV tourist office.  Entrance to the Sint Anna Almshouse (chapel/museum) is € 2 per person (open Saturdays 14.00-16.00). Visiting the chapel/museum is optional. Or maybe you'd prefer to take a guided tour of the courtyards? No problem! See our guided tour page.

Courtyard concerts

Every year at Whitsun there are courtyard concerts, where you can enjoy a wide variety of musical genres and performances, ranging from jazz to classical music, and from blues to children's performances. A whole weekend of lively culture in the Leiden courtyards! This year the festival will take place on Sunday May 19 and Monday May 20, 2024.

All courtyard gardens

Experience the highlights