So you’ve decided you’re going to move to Leiden, congrats! It’s a beautiful Dutch town, and living here will be a life-changing experience.
But now that you’ve made your decision, there are some choices to be made. Where should you live? How will you get a job? And what will you do with yourself?
This article will help you get on your feet if you’ve just made the move to Leiden (and hey, it may even help out a few Leiden locals).
1. Decide which neighbourhood suits you best
With its cosy, compact centre, you’d be forgiven for thinking there aren’t many options in terms of neighbourhoods to live in, but you would also be wrong.
Let’s talk about some of your options. 👇
Living in Leiden’s city centre
Leiden is a very beautiful and historic city that is filled with authentic Dutch buildings. That’s probably why you actually want to live there!
This is also why living in the city centre of Leiden can be a bit more costly, due to the historical and sentimental values of the houses situated there.
Plus, it’s small, and there’s a high demand from students.
Everything in between the old canals of Leiden is considered the old heart and centre of Leiden.
You’ll get the classic Leiden vibe at its best, and with the city being really compact, you can always walk or bike to almost anything.
That being said, while it is on the pricey side for renting or buying a house, all the events and students there make it a buzzing scene (but also a bit too busy for some).
Leiden’s suburbs
If you venture a little further, you can find multiple neighbourhoods that are just as lovely. For instance, the neighbourhoods of De Merenwijk and Stevenshof are just a few minutes cycling away from the city centre.
These two areas are good for families, as they are fully equipped with schools, playgrounds, and shops.
The houses in these neighbourhoods were built between the 1970s and 1980s and carry the true spirit of traditional Dutch suburbs.
Even fancier and closer to the centre of Leiden are neighbourhoods like the Tuinstadwijk, de Lage Mors and the Professorenwijk.
These Leiden neighbourhoods have some classy 1930s houses and are very popular among both Dutch and expat families.
Or try neighbouring municipalities
Another great option is living in Leiden’s neighbouring municipalities. Leiderdorp, Voorschoten, Warmond, Oegstgeest, and Katwijk are popular with families and often offer a better space-to-price ratio.
Oegstgeest would be the most popular option as it is right next to Leiden and generally offers more spacious housing options as well as classic Dutch-style houses.
The neighbourhood is also generally safe, clean, and family-friendly. However, fair warning: the prices can be pretty steep. 💸
Katwijk (AKA Katwijk aan Zee) has more of an independent character to it.
A former fishing village, Katwijk is ideal for someone who doesn’t want to live in the middle of all the hustle and bustle and wants the beach to be just a short bike ride away.
However, the cost of housing isn’t that friendly here, and there’s limited availability. A lot of the accommodations here are only available temporarily for holiday-goers.
If you just want to visit Katwijk, that’s an easy 30-minute bus ride or 30-40 minute cycle from the Leiden city centre. 🚲
Good to know: As with so many Dutch regions, Leiden and its neighbouring municipalities are all conveniently within biking distance of each other with lovely bicycle paths to boot.
So now you know a bit more about potential living spots in or around Leiden. Time to properly settle yourself and register with the municipality of your new home.
Moving to a new town can be quite an ordeal. Thankfully, Leiden has an excellent Expat Centre which can help you. In partnership with Leiden’s Tourist Information Office, the ECL provides essential information about living in the Netherlands.
2. Find a job in Leiden
When it comes to finding a job in Leiden, there are multiple sectors that you can dive into. While the city may not be massive, it’s got some big names based here.
Leiden University
Leiden is famous for being a university town, its biggest and most popular one being, of course, Leiden University.
This famous university was attended by historical figures such as Rembrandt and Einstein, as well as multiple members of the Dutch royal family.
Currently, the university has a large international staff spread across seven faculties.
Due to Leiden University’s ever-growing popularity among students, this institution of higher education is constantly in search of new people to hire.
Leiden Bio Science Park
Another place in Leiden where a unique job opportunity may arise is the Bio Science Park.
It is the largest bioscience facility in the whole of the Netherlands, with a staggering number of 26,000 employees. It is Holland’s best life science research centre, which focuses on both education and business.
Leiden’s Bio Science Park offers a range of interesting jobs and is constantly looking for new great minds to join the team.
So if you want to work while simultaneously conducting crucial research, the Bio Science Park in Leiden may have some great job opportunities for you.
Creative and start-up scene in Leiden
More on the creative side of life? Leiden has more than its fair share of creative companies and promising start-ups.
Want some examples? Think about the exciting start-up venue of PLNT, where Leiden fosters dozens of young creative and innovative companies, or the media-imperium of DutchReview, which is also located in Leiden (hey, wait, that’s us 😉 ).
For some more examples of sectors to work in Leiden, you might want to check out Key Region Leiden!
Work at shops and restaurants in Leiden
Aside from a very impressive educational and creative scene, Leiden is also booming with life.
That is why this rather small town has so many different types of shops and restaurants. While finding a job in customer service in Leiden may be hard if you do not speak Dutch, it’s not impossible.
After all, Leiden is a university town full of students from all over the world. This means that the town is becoming more open to English speakers in customer service, and businesses are looking for student workers.
So, people won’t be surprised if their barista doesn’t speak Dutch.
Let’s also not forget that Leiden is geographically located in a very convenient place. Big cities like Amsterdam, The Hague, Rotterdam, and Utrecht are within a 30-minute train ride. So if you’re having a hard time finding a job within Leiden, you can always look in the nearby cities.
3. Take a moment to enjoy the museums
There is also so much to do in your free time. Leiden is home to a variety of museums, such as the Naturalis Biodiversity Center, the Wereldmuseum Leiden, and the wonderful Museum of Antiquities.
READ MORE | The museum town of the Netherlands: 13 great museums to visit in Leiden
Leiden also boasts the oldest botanical garden in the Netherlands, the Hortus Botanicus, dating all the way back to 1590.
Need to get a bank account, find a school, apply for a BSN number, sign up with a doctor, or even discuss setting up a mortgage? The Expat Centre can help you sort it all.
For all the science lovers out there, there is also an observatory on the grounds, which is open to the public.
Established by Leiden University in 1633, Leiden’s observatory is the oldest operating university observatory in the world.
4. Or even just take in the sights
Leiden is a very picturesque town (there’s a whole lot of Instagram material to prove it!) Filled with beautiful canals, charming cafés and restaurants, an exciting street market, and breathtaking views.
One way to get you started on a sightseeing journey through the city is to go on an expedition to find all the poems written on Leiden’s buildings.
READ MORE | Eating out in Leiden in 2026: the top hotspots to check out!
Yes, that’s right! Poems!
The “Poems and Walls” project began in 1992, and today, there are over 100 poems written in their original language scattered all around Leiden.
Also, while walking through Leiden, you can’t help but notice De Burcht.
This 11th-century fort is perfect for walks and some pretty amazing photos. People even have their weddings here, and there’s a cute café at the entrance. 💖
If you’re looking for some peace and quiet, there is also the Leidse Hout, a marvellous park located on the border of Leiden and Oegstgeest.
It’s so big that it’s pretty much like a forest, so it allows for a perfect escape from the city. 🌳
5. Join a club or society
The quickest way to make friends in Leiden? Join a club. Seriously, it’s like fast-tracking your social life.
If you’re into running (or just pretending to be), check out 071 Run Club. They meet regularly for group runs around the city, and the vibe is welcoming whether you’re training for a marathon or just trying to burn off those bitterballen.
Looking for a more general expat community? Try the Leiden Social Meetup group. With over 2,000 members, they organise regular casual hangouts at different locations around town.
If you’re looking for a more female-centred space, Girls Gone International Leiden is a Facebook group that hosts social events and provides a space for women to connect with other international women in the area.
And if you’re a bookworm? The 21st Century Book Club meets monthly to discuss everything from classics to contemporary fiction — perfect if you want stimulating conversation with your coffee.
Whatever your interest, there’s probably a club for it in Leiden. And if there isn’t? Start one yourself.
Whether you’ve decided you want to move to Leiden or are already living there, we hope these tips will help you during your stay. 🤗
Can you think of any other reasons why living in Leiden is a great idea? Let us know in the comments below!
Just correct a fact that the “good people” who are at ECL on Mondays and Wednesdays help expats, provide information and answer all the questions, are not employees of ECL, but volunteers from ACCESS – Netherlands (guess you know who ACCESS is :), these volunteers are expats themselves, that’s why they are doing a wonderful job helping other expats through their own experiences, the art of empathy!