Leiden's museum of art and city history in the cloth hall building of 1640, with works by Lucas van Leyden, Rembrandt, and Jan Steen.
September 26, 2026 – March 29, 2027
17th-century flower still lifes and cabinet-of-curiosities objects from the collection of the Phoebus Foundation, staged by fashion designer Walter Van Beirendonck in dialogue with contemporary fashion.
May 22, 2026 – October 25, 2026
Portraits and other paintings by the largely forgotten painter and gallerist from her Leiden years, 1940 to 1953.
The museum's roots go back to the 16th century: in 1566, fearing iconoclasm, the Leiden magistrates had several altarpieces, including Lucas van Leyden's Last Judgment triptych, brought to the town hall. After the relief of the city in 1574, mementos of the siege were also put on public display there.
The building, the Laecken-Halle, was built from 1639 to 1641 to designs by Arent van ’s-Gravesande as a Classicist inspection hall for Leiden's famous woolen cloth. With the decline of the textile industry, it lost this role in 1820; in 1868 the city council decided to establish a museum here. On May 1, 1874, 300 years after the relief, the entire building opened as a municipal museum of art and history.
Donations made further galleries possible: in 1890 the Harteveltzaal, where contemporary art such as the Hague School was shown early on, and in 1922 the Papevleugel (Pape wing). During World War II the most valuable pieces were moved to safety; in 1945 the museum was one of the first in the country to reopen.
From 2016 to 2019 the museum was closed for restoration and expansion. Julian Harrap Architects restored the old building, while Happel Cornelisse Verhoeven added the new Van Steijn galleries and roofed over the inner courtyard, the Achterplaats, which now connects all parts of the building. The collection of some 22,000 objects ranges from Lucas van Leyden, Rembrandt, and Jan Steen to Theo van Doesburg and Erwin Olaf, while also telling the story of the city.
| Adults | €16 |
|---|---|
| Reduced | €9.50CJP pass holders |
| Children & teens | freefree up to age 17 · Free through age 17. |
| Visitors with disabilities | –companion free · One companion with an OV-Begeleiderskaart or GPK-Passagierskaart, as well as sign language, speech-to-text, and spoken language interpreters, are admitted free. |
| Students & apprentices | –No general student discount listed; free admission with the “Lakenhal-studententasje” (student tote bag). |
| Groups | –No group rate listed; groups of 8 or more should register in advance via boekingen@lakenhal.nl (at least two weeks in advance, customized programs four weeks). |
| Group tour “Hoogtepunten & Architectuur” (60 minutes, up to 15 people) | €120Per group, plus admission; in Dutch, English, German, or Dutch Sign Language. |
| Family tour (90 minutes, up to 15 people) | €14560 minutes €120; per group, plus admission for adults, for children ages 6 and up. |
Free admission: October 3 (Leidens Ontzet), 10:00–13:00
Free with the Museumkaart; also free for members of the Vriendenvereniging VBL, the Lucas van Leyden Mecenaat, or the Vereniging Rembrandt, and with an ICOM card and VriendenLoterij VIP-KAART. Free once a year with the Leiden Sleutelpas. The ticket is valid for the entire museum, including special exhibitions. The Museumkaart is available at the ticket desk.
Largely accessible; almost all floors by elevator. On the second floor of the historic Lakenhal, some doors and corridors are only 85 cm wide; wider wheelchairs and mobility scooters cannot get through there (transfer to a loaner wheelchair possible). The old Dutch kitchen, the brewer's room, and the upper floor of the University Chamber cannot be reached with a walking aid. Free loaner wheelchairs, rollators, and folding stools at the information desk. One accessible parking space in front of the entrance, more in the Lammermarkt parking garage. One accessible restroom near the cloakroom. Tactile materials at the information desk; the tactile audio tour is currently unavailable. Induction loop in the auditorium and in the Achterplaats, regular sign language tours by a deaf guide, monthly dementia-friendly tours (“Memorabel”).
Great for kids & families
| Kids’ admission | free up to age 17 |
|---|
Family trail with 13 drawers full of interactive tasks for families with children ages 6 and up (free booklet at the ticket desk). Family tours for groups as well as workshops and family activities in the studio according to the program. Free admission through age 17.
Nieuwe Beestenmarkt · 2-min walk
About a 10-minute walk from Leiden Centraal station. The nearest wheelchair-accessible bus stop is “Nieuwe Beestenmarkt,” about a 2-minute walk away.
Paid parking · 3-min walk to the entrance
Nearest parking garage: Lammermarkt (Lammermarkt 20P, 2312 CW Leiden), cheaper with online reservation via the municipality; exit tickets are not sold at the museum ticket desk.
The museum is in the old town; the streets and sidewalks leading there can be uneven.
Get directionsCafé Laken with regional organic products, light meals, and a sheltered terrace courtyard. Museum shop in the entrance area, including exclusive “Nieuw Leids Laken” fabrics.
The auditorium, studio, Achterplaats, and Café Laken (outside opening hours) are rented only for events that fit the museum's mission and profile. Contact: events@lakenhal.nl.
Inquiries & details| Guided tours | yes · approx. 60 min |
|---|---|
| Audio guide | yes (NL, EN) |
| School programs | yes |
| Good to know | Free audio tour “Hoogtepunten” through the collection (Dutch and English) at the information desk, cannot be reserved; also the free Lakenhal app. No fixed route. Group tours by advance registration only (boekingen@lakenhal.nl, +31 71 516 5357, Tue–Thu); outside guides by arrangement only. Quietest times are at the beginning and end of the day on weekdays. |
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