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Museum De Lakenhal
Leidens foremost museum, the Lakenhal, displaying works by native son Rembrandt among others, will close its doors between 2016 and 2018 while it undergoes a major renovation and expansion. Check online or with the tourist office for updates.
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Drommedaris
Located between the Buitenhaven and the Oude Haven, the Drommedaris was built as a defence tower as part of the 16th-century town walls. Once a formidable prison, it now serves as a meeting hall. Its clock-tower carillon tinkles on the hour.
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Museum voor het Kruideniersbedrijf
Tucked into a narrow lane is this charming replica of an old grocery store where lovely ladies in aprons dole out sweets and tea from decorative containers. Pick up a block of white liquorice candy to add to hot milk – an old Dutch tradition.
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Sylvette
Picassos sandblasted concrete sculpture Sylvette (1970), which he designed with Norwegian artist Carl Nesjar, depicts Picassos model and muse Sylvette David, whom he met in France in 1954 when she was 19; she later also became an artist.
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Kaaswaag
This museum in the Markts Waag building follows the history of the cheese trade in the Netherlands, especially its history in Gouda. A shop has samples of the towns beloved namesake. There is also a cool model of the Markt circa 1990.
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Park Frankendael
Once part of a posh estate, this lovely, landscaped green space has walking paths, flapping storks, decorative bridges and the remains of follies. It surrounds the historic Frankendael House and De Kas, the restaurant-in-a-greenhouse.
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Proveniershuis
Off Grote Houtstraat to the southwest of Grote Markt is one of Haarlems prettiest buildings, the Proveniershuis. It started life as a hofje (almshouse) and became the former headquarters of St Joris Doelen (the Civic Guard of St George).
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De Valk
Leidens landmark windmill museum receives loving care, with constant renovation, and many consider it the best example of its kind. Its arms are free to turn whenever possible, when wind conditions are right, and can still grind grain.
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Spui
Inviting cafés and brainy bookstores ring the Spui, a favoured haunt of academics, students and journalists. On Fridays a book market takes over the square; on Sundays its an art market. And just so you know, its pronounced spow (rhymes with now).
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Strijp
The sprawling Philips industrial centre is being redeveloped as a multi-use complex with shops, offices, restaurants, cafes, a concert hall, a hostel and the worlds biggest skateboard park, Area 51. Its also the chief venue for Dutch Design Week.
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Utrecht University
On the eastern side of Domplein stand the ceremonial buildings of Utrecht University, surrounding the old church chapterhouse where the Treaty of the Union of Utrecht was signed in 1579. The treaty marked the founding of the Netherlands as a republic.
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Zijlpoort
Built in 1667 by Willem van der Helm, this grand stone edifice at Leidens eastern edge is one of only two surviving city gates (there were originally eight), along with the Morspoort . Today the Zijlpoort houses a cafe/restaurant and events venue.
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Fortifications
At the end of Sint Bernardusstraat, the Helpoort is the oldest surviving town gate in the Netherlands (1229); this area is laced with old walls. The remains of more 13th-century ramparts and fortifications are across the Maas in the Céramique district.
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Amsterdam Public Transport Museum
A great way to see old industry and new architecture on the IJ is on a boat operated by the Amsterdam Public Transport Museum . They run from pier 14 behind Centraal Station on Sundays only, from late March to late October; see the website for schedules.
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Witte Huis
Dating from 1897–98, Europes first skyscraper, the 11-storey, 45m-high Witte Huis, was designed by Willem Molenbroek in art-nouveau style using load-bearing brick walls rather than a steel skeleton, and is a rare survivor of the prewar period.
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Kerkje aan de Zee
The supports of Urks village church, Kerkje aan de Zee, are made entirely out of masts of VOC (Dutch East India Company) ships that brought back exotic goods from the East Indies. Inside are ship models and, at times, haunting recitals by the choir.
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Leiden University
The oldest university in the Netherlands was a gift to Leiden from Willem the Silent in 1575 for withstanding two Spanish sieges in 1573 and 1574. The campus comprises an interesting mix of modern and antique buildings that are scattered around town.
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Naturalis Biodiversity Centre
A stuffed elephant greets you at this large, well-funded collection of all the usual dead critters and, notably, the skullcap of the million-year-old Java Man discovered by Dutch anthropologist Eugène Dubois in 1891. Its 300m west of the town centre.
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Museum de Gevangenpoort
Across the Hofvijver from the Binnenhof, the Gevangenpoort is a surviving remnant of the 13th-century city fortifications. It has hourly tours showing how justice was dispensed back in the day and new displays bathe the torture tools in radiant light.
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Whale
Built between 1998 and 2000 by Dutch architect Frits van Dongen, this energy-efficient, zinc-clad apartment block has two raised corners to allow more natural light inside, resulting in its unique whale-like shape (best appreciated from Levantkade on KNSM Eiland).
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