Leiden, a city and municipality in South Holland, Netherlands, is located on the old Rhine. A visit to the small yet charming city with many canals, beautiful old buildings, an interesting variety of museums and art galleries, will definitely be an enriching...more
Leiden, a city and municipality in South Holland, Netherlands, is located on the old Rhine. A visit to the small yet charming city with many canals, beautiful old buildings, an interesting variety of museums and art galleries, will definitely be an enriching experience. Located in the tulip growing district in The Netherlands this beautiful and picturesque city will not only captivate you with its beauty but would also stimulate your curiosity. Home to the oldest university in the country Leiden has a large student population giving the city a young and internationally diverse population. Muslim tourists will be able to locate Muslim-friendly facilities in Leiden. There are a few prominent mosques in Leiden, as well as a couple of Halal restaurants in Leiden which are frequented by locals and tourists alike.
A great way to see this lovely city is by taking a boat tour along the canals. These canal boat tours are conveniently located in central Leiden. Tourists will definitely enjoy a relaxed boat ride around the picturesque city.
The city of Leiden has several interesting landmarks that visitors may like to visit. De Burcht is one of the most famous landmarks in Leiden. It is an old castle dating back to the 12th century, built on an artificial hill that once overlooked the old Rhine. The castle is a great place to enjoy panoramic views of the city.
De Valk Windmill situated a short distance from the train station is a definite must-visit as it is one of the two remaining windmills in Leiden. The windmill has been turned into a museum and many consider it to be the best example of a windmill, as its arms are still free to turn and it can still grind the grain.
Leiden’s location makes it a good base to visit the flower gardens of Keukenhof; if you are visiting the city during spring. The world famous gardens are a top tourist destination and attract visitors from around the world. Visitor can use the bus to get to the gardens as there are buses leaving frequently from the train station.
The city is also home to a variety of museums and art galleries. Tourists can pay a visit to the Boerhaave Museum to view some of the most unusual displays of medical research including human organs in jars. Another interesting museum is the National Museum of Antiques or the Rijksmuseum Van Oudheden. This museum is home to an impressive collection of human and animal mummies from Egypt. Other museums worth visiting are Museum De Lakenhal and the National Museum of Ethnology
Popular shopping areas in Leiden are De Markt Leiden; an outdoor market, and Haarlemerstraat .
The closest major international airport that serves the city of Leiden is the Amsterdam Schiphol Airport. Located approximately 27 kilometres from the center of Leiden, this airport has international flights from Amsterdam. Regular train service is available and connects the city of Leiden with the main airport of Netherlands. Rotterdam The Hague airport is another major airport located close by; approximately 31 kilometres from the center of Leiden
Muslim visitors will be able to locate some Halal restaurants in Leiden. Everest Tandoori Restaurant, Bungamas, Toko Mini, Chicken Cottage, Sumatra House, Eethuis Ak-Al, Selera Anda are some of the restaurants said to serve Halal food in Leiden. While some of them are certified Halal others are verbally verified to be Halal. Muslim visitors will however have to ensure the Halal status of the restaurant before dining there. They should also be aware that some of these restaurants may serve alcohol.
The city of Leiden is known to have a couple of mosques serving its Muslim residents as well as its Muslim visitors. The Moroccan Mosque and the Turkish Mosque can be used by visitors when necessary. Muslim tourists can also inquire at one of the mosques, about other prayer facilities in Leiden. Some Halal restaurants in the area provide their Muslim diners space to offer their prayers on request.
Rotterdam Airportplein 60, 3045 AP Rotterdam, Netherlands
Evert van de Beekstraat 202, 1118 CP Schiphol, Netherlands
Prayer times for Leiden,Netherlands