Holiday Inn Leiden - Leiden, Netherlands     

When walking through Leiden, its rich history still seems very much alive. The University's Academic Building, the Waag and the stately mansions lining the famous Rapenburg, the beautiful churches and the 35 almshouses each tell a part of Leiden's history. This is where Rembrandt was born and developed his painting skills.

Leiden has many museums, all well worth a visit. The following is merely a selection:
- The National Antiquity Museum has Egyptian, Greek and Roman collections.
- The National Museum of Cultural Anthropology displays treasures from different cultures.
- The Lakenhal Municipal Museum exhibits works by Rembrandt, Lucas van Leiden and Jan Steen.

Leiden's atmosphere is largely determined by its university. In 1575, Leiden was the first city of North Holland to be given a university in reward for the courageous behaviour displayed by its citizens during the Spanish occupation. The university has developed into a world-famous centre of science, while its many students contribute to the lively atmosphere in the city.

The old city centre of Leiden boasts a wide variety of shops. Moreover, every Wednesday and Saturday there is a general market along the water. This market has been in existence for 9 centuries. Leiden's culinary aspect is reflected in the wide variety of restaurants and bars on offer. The Leiden Jazz Week in January, the 10-day summer festival in July and the celebration of the Relief of Leiden on the 2nd, 3rd and 4th of October are but a few examples of the many events that take place throughout the year.

Situated between Amsterdam, The Hague and Utrecht, Leiden is easily accessible by any means of transportation. The coast, an extensive lake district and the always colourful bulb fields in spring are just around the corner, so to speak.