Looking for a place to work or study in Leiden, the gorgeous university town that’s home to the leafy beauty of the Hortus Botanicus, is a magical idea.
Once you’ve enjoyed the hustle and bustle of all these things to see, do, and experience in the city, you might think it’s time to find a restful work or study environment.
We’ve been there, so we’ve compiled something to help: a list of 11 energising places to work or study in Leiden! ✨
- 1. Barista Cafe: for a warm, cosy ambience
- 2. Lebkov & Sons: for delicious broodjes
- 3. Leiden University Library: for when all you want is silence
- 4. PLNT Leiden: for quiet workplaces in a startup hub
- 5. Sophie Kattencafé: for some destressing with cuddles
- 6. 30ml: for relaxing canal views
- 7. Anne&Max: for a central location
- 8. Lot en de Walvis: for a harbour-side study spot
- 9. Vooraf en Toe: for cosiness by a canal
- 10. I Scream Coffee Leiden: for delicious snacks and coffee
1. Barista Cafe: for a warm, cosy ambience
Nestled snuggly in the heart of the city lies Barista Cafe, a warm and welcoming nook for those with productivity on their mind.
Busy bees looking to work or study in Leiden can get away from the hustle and bustle of the nearby Breestraat and take in the scenic beauty of canal De Rijn at this cosy café.
READ MORE | 11 cosy places to work or study in Groningen
Barista Café’s dedicated attic workplace is a great option if you love the invigorating smell of coffee, but also want focus time to blast off some assignments.
🏢 Type: Café
💰 Price: Prices start at €3.15 for coffee and €4.25 for bites
⏰ Opening hours: 9:30 AM to 5 PM every Sunday to Friday, and 9 AM to 5 PM on Saturdays
📍 Location: Catharinasteeg 5, 2311 DE
2. Lebkov & Sons: for delicious broodjes
A short hop and skip from the hustle and bustle of Leiden Centraal is Lebkov & Sons, a cheery family-owned chain of cafés.
One of many Lebkov & Sons throughout the Randstad, this Leiden location is perfect for remote workers or freelancers that’d like a change of scenery from their home work desk.
Complete with steaming cups of well-roasted coffee and baristas who aren’t waiting for you to move along, this Leiden cafe will help keep you focused. ☕️
🏢 Type: Café
💰 Price: Prices start at €2.95 for coffee and €3.75 for bites
⏰ Opening hours: 6 AM to 7 PM every Monday to Friday, and 7 AM to 7 PM every Saturday and Sunday
📍 Location: Bargelaan 8, 2333 CT
3. Leiden University Library: for when all you want is silence
Any visitor with a functioning LU card can access the Leiden University Library, even if you aren’t a student any more.
For pure “get sh💩t done now!” silence, there’s nothing to beat the university library, which even offers private study rooms for dedicated focus time.
READ MORE | 15 motivating places to work or study in The Hague
Don’t mind a bit of noise? The library café might also be a solid choice, especially if you’d also fancy some snacks when you get peckish!
Tip: You don’t need to have an LU card to enter this part of the library.
Let op! During exam season, most of the study places will be reserved for students at the university.
🏢 Type: Library
💰 Price: Free
⏰ Opening hours: 8:30 AM to 12 AM every Monday to Friday, and 10 AM to 11 PM every Saturday and Sunday
📍 Location: Witte Singel 27, 2311 BG
4. PLNT Leiden: for quiet workplaces in a startup hub
If you thought PLNT’s building was just a hangout for fancy-schmancy tech startups (and DutchReview, of course! 😉), think again.
READ MORE | 8 Dutch startups that make the world a better place
This social hub opens its doors to all students, freelancers, and remote workers that are looking for a place to work or study in Leiden.
With many productive nooks for serious focus time and a charming café and rooftop garden for quick work/study breaks, PLNT is perfect for those looking to power through some deadlines.
🏢 Type: Business centre
💰 Price: As much as a cup of joe at the café
⏰ Opening hours: 8:30 AM to 5 PM every Monday to Friday (closed on weekends)
📍 Location: Langegracht 70, 2312 NV
5. Sophie Kattencafé: for some destressing with cuddles
Dying for some cuddle therapy, but don’t own any pets? Maak je geen zorgen (don’t worry), because Sophie Kattencafé waits for your on Leiden’s Haarlemmerstraat. . 🐈
This quiet little café is the purrrfect place to chill out with some furry friends whilst you work or study in Leiden.
Let op! You usually have to book ahead to ensure there’s a seat available.
🏢 Type: Café
💰 Price: Prices start at €2.6 for a coffee
⏰ Opening hours: 10 AM to 4 PM every Tuesday to Friday, 10 AM to 5 PM on Saturdays, and 11 AM to 4 PM on Sundays (closed on Mondays)
📍 Location: Haarlemmerstraat 241, 2312 DR
6. 30ml: for relaxing canal views
If you fancy sitting back and sipping a coffee, whilst listening to the gentle lapping of water in canals, then 30ml is the place for you.
This cosy café offers canal-side tranquillity for those looking for a relaxing place to do a bit of work or study in one of the Netherlands’ most beautiful student cities.
READ MORE | A guide to the best student cities in the Netherlands in 2023
If the views are too distracting, no worries. The cafe also offers a little quiet room down the back where many a hard worker may retreat for some peace and productivity.
🏢 Type: Café
💰 Price: Prices start at €2.20 for coffee
⏰ Opening hours: 8 AM to 5 PM every Monday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM every Saturday, and 11 AM to 5 PM every Sunday
📍 Location: Botermarkt 3, 2311 EM
7. Anne&Max: for a central location
Are work or university deadlines freaking you out? A sweet treat at Anne&Max may not be able to get your assignments done for you, but it’ll definitely help calm you down!
This quaint café is just a stroll away from Leiden’s picturesque Nieuwe Rijn and offers the perfect environment for some much-needed focus time.
Let op! If you’re going to be using your laptop between 11 AM and 3 PM, you need to sit at one of the designated work tables.
🏢 Type: Café
💰 Price: Prices start at €3 for coffee
⏰ Opening hours: 8 AM to 6 PM every Monday to Saturday, and 9 AM to 6 PM every Sunday
📍 Location: Gangetje 2, 2311 ER
8. Lot en de Walvis: for a harbour-side study spot
In addition to being a fabulous spot to grab a bite to eat, Lot en de Walvis is a solid choice for any freelancer or student that’s looking for a restful place to sit and work — especially on a sunny warm day.
The historic headquarters of the now-defunct Leiden Steamship Company offers a calm atmosphere that’s perfect for some focus time, all while enjoying beautiful harbour views.
🏢 Type: Café
💰 Price: Prices start at €7 for bites and €3.25 for coffee
⏰ Opening hours: 10 AM to 12 AM every Monday to Friday, and 9 AM to 12 AM every Saturday and Sunday
📍 Location: Haven 1, 2312 MG
9. Vooraf en Toe: for cosiness by a canal
D’you love the sights and sounds of Leiden’s gorgeous old town, but want a few hours of silence to get some assignments done?
We hear you! Vooraf en Toe is a cosy little café by Leiden’s Nieuwe Rijn that offers visitors an idyllic spot to make a dent in their work or study assignments.
This location is perfect for any night owls out there, as the cafe is also a restaurant that stays open until late at night.
🏢 Type: Café
💰 Price: Prices start at €3 for bites and €2.7 for coffee
⏰ Opening hours: 7:30 AM to 12 AM every day (except for Wednesdays and Saturdays, when it opens by 7 AM)
📍 Location: Botermarkt 8, 2311 EM
10. I Scream Coffee Leiden: for delicious snacks and coffee
Perhaps, like us, you like to munch on something whilst you work. (No judgement here, munch away! 😉)
Well, then I Scream Coffee is one quirky café that deserves to be on your radar, as its snacks and coffee are about as lekker as its relaxing work and study environment.
READ MORE | 11 inspiring places to work or study in Nijmegen
Feeling like a distraction? That’s ok, it happens.
What if we told you that you don’t even have to leave the premises? Simply turn the corner at the end of the cafe and you’ll find a quirky shop with many independently owned businesses and their exotic items.
🏢 Type: Café
💰 Price: Prices not publicly listed
⏰ Opening hours: 10 AM to 5 PM every Monday to Sunday
📍 Location: Nieuwstraat 13-15, 2312 KA
Whether you’re plagued by noisy neighbours, want a change of scenery, or are just looking for an excuse to have a delicious slice of apple pie whilst you work, these 11 places to work or study in Leiden are sure to help you stay productive! 💪
Which of these places is destined to be your next favourite work or study spot? Tell us all about it in the comments below!
