Coming to the Conference – The last mile
Leiden is situated in South Holland, which is a very well connected region and is accessible by air and train. It is not advisable to drive to/in Leiden as parking around campus is scarce and can get rather expensive. The College of Humanities campus is within walking/biking distance (15 min. walk, four bus stops) from the train station.
By Bus
- The humanities campus is served by buses #1, #3, station Paterstraat, and #5, station Noordeinde. You can use https://9292.nl/en or download the app for information on what buses you can take to get there. Bus drivers do not accept cash, you can use your phone or contactless card to pay on the bus, or pre-purchase a ticket from 9292.
Coming to Leiden
Visa Information
For information on whether you need a visa to enter the Netherlands, as well as what type of visa, visit the Dutch Immigration Service (IND) website https://www.government.nl/topics/immigration-to-the-netherlands/question-and-answer/which-visa-do-i-need-to-travel-to-the-netherlands
Conference organizers and Leiden University cannot issue letters of sponsorship (invitation) to conference participants or presenters, as this comes with financial obligations on the institution. Upon request, presenters and participants who register for the conference can be issued a letter to whom it may concern of acceptance of abstract or of confirmation of payment of conference fees. This letter can be used alongside other required documents for a visa application, but it is no guarantee of issuing a visa.
By Air
Depending on where you are coming from, your budget and flexibility, there are a few airports that are accessible to Leiden by train:
- Amsterdam Airport (AMS) is the closest to Leiden (15 min. train ride) it is also the largest and is served by most international airlines. Rotterdam (RTM) and Eindhoven (EIN) are smaller airport served by a number of budget airlines.
- As an alternative to multiple connections, it is sometimes more environmentally responsible and cheaper to take the train from Paris (CDG, ORY) or Brussles (BRU). Train tickets can be heavily discounted if purchased well in advance.
By train
Train rides from most Dutch cities and major cities in the neighboring countries are within reasonable distance
- Use the Dutch Railways website www.ns.nl to plan your trip to Leiden Central Station, including train schedules. Depending on the season, there are three or four trains every hour from Schiphol to Leiden, and frequent trains from most cities in the Netherlands. You can pre-purchase train tickets form the website, or via the app. You can also use your phone or NFC-enabled credit/debit card to pay at the automatic gates in the train stations.
- For international trains, use www.nsinternational.nl to check the train schedules, duration, and purchase tickets.
Accommodation
There are a number of hotels in the city center within walking distance from the conference venue. They are mostly small, independent hotels, with the exception of two chain hotels, Golden Tulip and IBIS. Airbnb and Booking.com also include many listings. Search for accommodation near the University Library or post code 2311BG.
Leidn University has negotiated *A limited number* of rooms at a special rate for its conference guests year round. If the advertised price at any of the hotels below is higher than the amount indicated here, you can make use of the special rate. Call or email the hotel and indicate that you are a guest of Leiden University coming to participate in the conference. If the negotiated number of rooms has not been reached, the hotel will make a reservation for you at the reduced rate.
Terms and conditions apply, most notably that cancellation is possible without a pentalty only in writing or by email before 18:00 Netherlands Time the day before check in.
3 stars:
- Ibis Leiden (near Central Station)
telephone 071 – 516 0000
€ 112.50 single room incl. breakfast
€ 133.50 double room incl. breakfast - Nieuw Minerva (Boommarkt, centre)
telephone 071 – 512 6358
€ 128.50 single room incl. breakfast
€ 150.00 double room incl. breakfast - Tulip Inn Hotel Leiden (near Central Station)
telephone 071 – 408 3500 / 020 – 654 5240
€ 122.50 single room incl. breakfast
€ 145.50 double room incl. breakfast
4 stars
- Golden Tulip (near Central Station)
telephone 071 – 408 3500 / 020 – 654 5240
€ 132.50 single room incl. breakfast
€ 155.50 double room incl. breakfast - Fletcher Welness Hotel Leiden (near Central Station)
telephone 071 – 870 0260
€ 126.00 single room incl. breakfast
€ 140.00 double room incl. breakfast
Places to go, Things to do
The conference is held on the week before Christmas, a particularly festive time in Leiden. Many events are planned this winter in the Centre of Leiden within a short walk from the University, such as the floating Christmas Market. Click here for a more detailed list of winter activities that week.
Musea
Leiden also boasts world class musea within meters from the conference venue. The National Museum of Antiquities holds an impressive collection, including an Egyptian temple! The Japan Museum SieboldHuis shows a collection of items collected from Japan by Franz Philipp von Siebold in the early 19th Century to sheds light on a the special Dutch-Japanese relations during the Japanese period of seclusion, as the Netherlands was the only western country allowed to enter Japan and practice trade. A few blocks farther, you can visit The Wereldmuseum Leiden (previously Museum of Ethnology) is concerned with themes that include religion or indigenous worlds and their struggle for independence and restoration of historical injustice. The Rijksmuseum Boerhaave, 2019 winner of European Museum of the Year Award, is the go-to place for history of science, technology, and medicine. The Hortus Botanicus on campus is the oldest botanical garden of the Netherlands, and one of the oldest in the world. If you are considering visiting multiple musea, consider buying a museum pass at the door of any of these locations. The pass also gives you access to Van Gogh Museum (and you get to skip the lines at the entrance), the National Museum in Amsterdam, and many others across the Netherlands.