Passing the time in Leiden

Being a student is, luckily, not all about studying. Other than the time you spend at Uni and the time you spend at home, there is sometimes a wonderful gap full of opportunities. The only question is, what should you do?

Leiden is an amazing place, and not only because of its beautiful canals and plenty of bars. There are also many fun things to do that you may have missed on first glance.

• Go bouldering! Some of you may go ‘huh?’, and I don’t blame you. I didn’t know the verb or the activity existed until I came here. The boulder hall in Leiden is a place where both amateurs and professionals go to have some fun and blow off some steam. For 10 euros (or 13.50 including climbing shoes) you can spend the day climbing with your buddies. Laughs and aching palms are guaranteed, and there’s even a cozy bar-cafe where you can have a drink after the workout.

• Play some pool! Leiden is full of pool cafes where you can hang out with friends and have a drink. Most of these bars offer a combination of relaxed-homey atmosphere and good music. They are perfect for bigger group of friends looking for a place to play around while having some drinks. Especially recommended is Poolcafé The Church.

• Check out the associations’ activities. When in doubt, it’s always a good idea to see what’s happening in the societies and student associations of Leiden, especially considering how many there are. Most activities, but not all, are only open to members, but it’s always good to try. A quick look through events in Facebook will probably inform you on two parties, a board-game night, a movie-night and a trip to some city on most nights of the week. It’s true- it’s difficult to find an evening where nothing is happening.

• Watch a movie! if you just want to relax, it’s always nice to grab some popcorn and go to one of Leiden’s three movie theaters for a nice evening. The only thing to take into account is that the latest showings are at 21:30. Night-owls, you’ve been warned.

It’s impossible to fit all there is to do into one short recommendation. The truth is, there’s so much to do in Leiden, all you have to do is look. There are concerts and events on a weekly basis, as well as special showings, exhibitions, guest lectures, and workshops. one thing is guaranteed- you won;t get bored.

If you’re interested in seeing more, have a look at the event calendar at https://www.visitleiden.nl/en/event-calendar.