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11 energising places to work or study in Leiden

Looking for a place to work or study in Leiden, the gorgeous university town thatโ€™s home to the leafy beauty of the Hortus Botanicus, is a magical idea.

Once youโ€™ve enjoyed the hustle and bustle of all these things to see, do, and experience in the city, you might think itโ€™s time to find a restful work or study environment.

Weโ€™ve been there, so weโ€™ve compiled something to help: a list of 11 energising places to work or study in Leiden! โœจ

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 cafรฉ.

READ MORE | 11 cosy places to work or study in Groningen

Barista Cafรฉโ€™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.

๐Ÿข Type: Cafรฉ

๐Ÿ’ฐ Price: Prices start at โ‚ฌ3.15 for coffee and โ‚ฌ4.25 for bites

โฐ Opening hours: 9:30 AM to 5 PM every Sunday to Friday, and 9 AM to 5 PM on Saturdays

๐Ÿ“ Location: Catharinasteeg 5, 2311 DE

2. Lebkov & Sons: for delicious broodjes

photograph-of-a-man-in-a-corduroy-jacket-sipping-coffee-at-a-cafe
Experiencing a dip in energy during the afternoon? Thatโ€™s nothing a cup of coffee wonโ€™t fix! Image: Freepik

A short hop and skip from the hustle and bustle of Leiden Centraal is Lebkov & Sons, a cheery family-owned chain of cafรฉs.

One of many Lebkov & Sons throughout the Randstad, this Leiden location is perfect for remote workers or freelancers thatโ€™d like a change of scenery from their home work desk. 

Complete with steaming cups of well-roasted coffee and baristas who arenโ€™t waiting for you to move along, this Leiden cafe will help keep you focused. โ˜•๏ธ

๐Ÿข Type: Cafรฉ

๐Ÿ’ฐ Price: Prices start at โ‚ฌ2.95 for coffee and โ‚ฌ3.75 for bites

โฐ Opening hours: 6 AM to 7 PM every Monday to Friday, and 7 AM to 7 PM every Saturday and Sunday

๐Ÿ“ Location: Bargelaan 8, 2333 CT

3. Leiden University Library: for when all you want is silence

Discover our Asian Library

Any visitor with a functioning LU card can access the Leiden University Library, even if you arenโ€™t a student any more.

For pure โ€œget sh๐Ÿ’ฉt done now!โ€ silence, thereโ€™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

Donโ€™t mind a bit of noise? The library cafรฉ might also be a solid choice, especially if youโ€™d also fancy some snacks when you get peckish!

Tip: You donโ€™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.

๐Ÿข Type: Library

๐Ÿ’ฐ Price: Free

โฐ Opening hours: 8:30 AM to 12 AM every Monday to Friday, and 10 AM to 11 PM every Saturday and Sunday

๐Ÿ“ Location: Witte Singel 27, 2311 BG

4. PLNT Leiden: for quiet workplaces in a startup hub

photograph-of-the-rooftop-sitting-area-at-plnt-leiden
If youโ€™re trying to nab a few rays of Vitamin D during summer, the rooftop working area might be right up your alley! Image: DutchReview/Supplied

If you thought PLNTโ€™s building was just a hangout for fancy-schmancy tech startups (and DutchReview, of course! ๐Ÿ˜‰), 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 cafรฉ and rooftop garden for quick work/study breaks, PLNT is perfect for those looking to power through some deadlines.

๐Ÿข Type: Business centre

๐Ÿ’ฐ Price: As much as a cup of joe at the cafรฉ

โฐ Opening hours: 8:30 AM to 5 PM every Monday to Friday (closed on weekends)

๐Ÿ“ Location: Langegracht 70, 2312 NV

5. Sophie Kattencafรฉ: for some destressing with cuddles

Dying for some cuddle therapy, but donโ€™t own any pets? Maak je geen zorgen (donโ€™t worry), because Sophie Kattencafรฉ waits for your on Leidenโ€™s Haarlemmerstraat. . ๐Ÿˆ

This quiet little cafรฉ 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 thereโ€™s a seat available.

๐Ÿข Type: Cafรฉ

๐Ÿ’ฐ Price: Prices start at โ‚ฌ2.6 for a coffee

โฐ 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)

๐Ÿ“ 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 cafรฉ offers canal-side tranquillity for those looking for a relaxing place to do a bit of work or study in one of the Netherlandsโ€™ 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.

๐Ÿข Type: Cafรฉ

๐Ÿ’ฐ Price: Prices start at โ‚ฌ2.20 for coffee

โฐ 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

๐Ÿ“ Location: Botermarkt 3, 2311 EM

7. Anne&Max: for a central location

person-eating-an-eclair-and-drinking-a-cup-of-black-coffee
Sometimes you deserve something sugary at the end of a productive day. Image: Freepik

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 itโ€™ll definitely help calm you down!

This quaint cafรฉ is just a stroll away from Leidenโ€™s picturesque Nieuwe Rijn and offers the perfect environment for some much-needed focus time.

Let op! If youโ€™re going to be using your laptop between 11 AM and 3 PM, you need to sit at one of the designated work tables.

๐Ÿข Type: Cafรฉ

๐Ÿ’ฐ Price: Prices start at โ‚ฌ3 for coffee

โฐ Opening hours: 8 AM to 6 PM every Monday to Saturday, and 9 AM to 6 PM every Sunday

๐Ÿ“ 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 thatโ€™s looking for a restful place to sit and work โ€” especially on a sunny warm day.

The historic headquarters of the now-defunct Leiden Steamship Company offers a calm atmosphere thatโ€™s perfect for some focus time, all while enjoying beautiful harbour views.

๐Ÿข Type: Cafรฉ

๐Ÿ’ฐ Price: Prices start at โ‚ฌ7 for bites and โ‚ฌ3.25 for coffee

โฐ Opening hours: 10 AM to 12 AM every Monday to Friday, and 9 AM to 12 AM every Saturday and Sunday

๐Ÿ“ Location: Haven 1, 2312 MG

9. Chummy Coffee Leiden: for the coffee fanatics

book-and-a-cup-of-coffee-sitting-on-a-wooden-table-in-a-cafe-in-leiden-for-people-to-work-and-study
Just the thing for a productive afternoon! Image: Freepik

Calling all coffee lovers! If the idea of working or studying whilst bathed in the aroma of your favourite beverage sounds perfect to you, then you need to check out Chummy Coffee Leiden.

READ MORE | 18 energising places to work or study in Rotterdam

Between delicious, steaming cups of joe on tap and the invigorating scent of them, your fingers are sure to be flying across your keyboard.

Let op! There is a โ€œno laptopโ€ policy on Saturdays.

๐Ÿข Type: Cafรฉ

๐Ÿ’ฐ Price: Prices not publicly listed

โฐ Opening hours: 10:30 AM to 4:30 PM every Wednesday to Saturday (closed Sunday to Tuesday)

๐Ÿ“ Location: Breestraat 97, 2311 CK

10. Vooraf en Toe: for cosiness by a canal

photograph-of-the-nieuwe-rijn-in-leiden-with-people-and-bikes-overlooking-the-canal
Thereโ€™s nothing quite like the calming view of the Nieuwe Rijn! โ˜บ๏ธ Image: Abuzer van Leeuwen/Supplied

Dโ€™you love the sights and sounds of Leidenโ€™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 cafรฉ by Leidenโ€™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.

๐Ÿข Type: Cafรฉ

๐Ÿ’ฐ Price: Prices start at โ‚ฌ3 for bites and โ‚ฌ2.7 for coffee

โฐ Opening hours: 7:30 AM to 12 AM every day (except for Wednesdays and Saturdays, when it opens by 7 AM)

๐Ÿ“ Location: Botermarkt 8, 2311 EM

11. I Scream Coffee Leiden: for delicious snacks and coffee

woman-in-cafรฉ-to-work-or-study-in-leiden-with-a-cup-of-coffee-sitting-on-the-table-beside-her
Attention dipping through the day? Time for a coffee! Image: Depositphotos

Perhaps, like us, you like to munch on something whilst you work. (No judgement here, munch away! ๐Ÿ˜‰)

Well, then I Scream Coffee is one quirky cafรฉ 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? Thatโ€™s ok, it happens.

What if we told you that you donโ€™t even have to leave the premises? Simply turn the corner at the end of the cafe and youโ€™ll find a quirky shop with many independently owned businesses and their exotic items.

๐Ÿข Type: Cafรฉ

๐Ÿ’ฐ Price: Prices not publicly listed

โฐ Opening hours: 10 AM to 5 PM every Monday to Sunday

๐Ÿ“ Location: Nieuwstraat 13-15, 2312 KA


Whether youโ€™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! ๐Ÿ’ช

Which of these places is destined to be your next favourite work or study spot? Tell us all about it in the comments below!

Feature Image:Freepik
Liana Pereira ๐Ÿ‡ฑ๐Ÿ‡ฐ
Liana Pereira ๐Ÿ‡ฑ๐Ÿ‡ฐ
Liana juggles her role as an Editor with wrapping up a degree in cognitive linguistics and assisting with DutchReview's affiliate portfolio. Since arriving in the Netherlands for her studies in 2018, she's thrilled to have the 'write' opportunity to help other internationals feel more at home here โ€” whether that's by penning an article on the best SIMs to buy in NL, the latest banking features, or important things to know about Dutch health insurance.

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