SvV_inpsiratiemagazine_ENG_2026

Discover theregion

Vacation feeling by the sea

Regionfullof Surprises

Knowledge meets culture in the city

400 years of painter Jan Steen

The best markets

Event calendar highlights Out and about with kids

LEIDEN, KATWIJK, WASSENAAR, OEGSTGEEST,VOORSCHOTEN, WARMOND, KAAG EN BRAASSEM and ZOETERWOUDE

Seven interviews with locals

NEW CULINARY HOTSPOTS LAND OF WINDMILLS AND LAKES OUT AND ABOUT WITH THE KIDS 42 34

25

44 EVENT CALENDAR FROM THE FARMER

40

47 VACATION CLOSE TO HOME

50 ROUTES

Cycling around

Leiden Central Station

8.8 km Vuurbaakplein, Katwijk aan Zee

Tourist Office Wassenaar, Langstraat 40 5.2 km Voorschoten Centre, Schoolstraat

Tourist Office Voorschoten, Voorstraat 17

Boerderij ’t Geertje, Zoeterwoude

Braassemermeer, Roelofarendsveen

6.5 km

Leiden Centre, bicycle parking Waagstalling

11,6 km Young Rembrandt Studio, Leiden, Langebrug 89

14.7 km

Tourist Office Warmond, Gemeentehaven 3

Tourist Office Leiden, Stationsweg 26 2.2 km Castle Oud-Poelgeest, Poelgeesterweg 1

Beach Wassenaarse Slag

6.6 km

Tip!

Tourist Office Katwijk, Zwaaikom / Prins Hendrikkade

Rent a bike from:

• Uitjes Leiden

• Sidney Tweewielers in Wassenaar

• Lemonbike in Katwijk

• Fietsverhuur Voorschoten

Free cycling routes: streekvanverrassingen.nl/routes

Exactly 400 years ago, Jan Steen was born in Leiden, a contemporary of Rembrandt and other great masters from Leiden. Steen’s works are world-famous for hidden messages and his ironic view of life. The painter also lived and worked in Warmond for several years, which is why the region is celebrating 400 years of Jan Steen this year!

Jan Steen Vijf tips

1. Exhibition ‘At home with Jan Steen – 400 years of life in the brewery’

Step into Steen’s personal life. See masterpieces from the Rijksmuseum, Mauritshuis and the museum’s own collection. Until 23 August at Museum De Lakenhal, Leiden.

leiden.nl/en/jansteen400

400

2. New! The 3D Jan Steen Experience

In six minutes, you will experience Steen’s life through the eyes of his housekeeper. This surprising video projection is new at Tourist Office Warmond.

Extra tip:

Also visit the Young Rembrandt Experience, Langebrug 89 in Leiden, next to the alley where Steen lived. Rembrandt and Steen were contemporaries, both born in 17th century Leiden.

3.The tomb of Steen

4. Jan Steen walk Warmond

Warmond is only a 15-minute bike ride from Leiden Central Station. Discover the paintings of Jan Steen in the picturesque village. Join a guide!

Jan Steen lived the last years of his life near the Pieterskerk in Leiden. After his death in 1679 he was buried in the family grave near the choir. Visit the new presentation board and read more about Jan Steen!

5. Jan Steen walk, ‘Then and now’ in Leiden. Which places in Leiden have a connection with Jan Steen? Discover this new theme route at VVV Leiden, Stationsweg 26.

Regional history

Strange guys, those Romans

The Limes (Roman for ‘border’) is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and formed the northern border of the Roman Empire, along the Old Rhine. Forts have been found in Leiden, Valkenburg and Katwijk and many excavations have been carried out. Discover them in the Valkenburg Tower Museum and the National Museum of Antiquities in Leiden. The Limes Route ends in Katwijk. Look back in time with VR binoculars and discover Fort Brittenburg! streekvanverrassingen.nl/romans

An unwanted boundary

This was also a border area during the Second World War.

The Atlantic Wall, a 5,000-kilometrelong defence line built by the German occupation, ran through the dune area. This wall is still visible! In Katwijk, many villas on the boulevard were demolished for this purpose.

Castles

in France? They’re also around the corner!

From the 16th century onwards, many castles and estates were built here as summer residences for wealthy citydwellers. Most of them are still here and form a green oasis of peace. streekvanverrassingen.nl/castles

Highways of the 17th century

Tip:

View the digital reconstruction of the boulevard and visitable locations online. streekvanverrassingen.nl/en/atlantikwall

Barges were the main cross-country transport from the 17th century onwards. Canals, Trekvaarten, were dug between cities due to a lack of good roads. An original canal still connects Warmond, Oegstgeest, Leiden and Voorschoten. Cycle the Trekvaart route and experience it for yourself! streekvanverrassingen.nl/canals

EVENT calendar

• Dag van het Kasteel

Join in on activities such as tastings, small performances, storytellers, birds of prey shows, and guided tours. Will you tick off all fifteen castles and country estates in our region? Whit Monday 25th May.

• National Archaeology Days

The National Archaeology Days bring the past to life with many activities, on 19, 20 and 21st June.

• Bunker day

Bunkers were part of the Atlantic Wall. During Bunker Day, many open their doors, including in Wassenaar. Visit the Rijksdorp bunker complex and the Bat bunker. Saturday 30th May.

• Limes World Heritage Day: 5 years of UNESCO!

On 5th November, the first lustrum of the UNESCO World Heritage status of the Lower Germanic Limes will be celebrated. Be inspired and watch the programme via streekvanverrassingen.nl/limes

Menno Doornbos lives in the Deer House on the Backershagen Estate

“Welcome to the smallest inhabited national monument in the Netherlands! This house was originally used for the storage of winter fodder for the deer park. Later it was furnished as a playhouse for the children of Prince Frederik, the brother of William II. After that, it was used by the municipality for a while, to store tools for the gardeners. It’s modest, but my dog Stella and I don’t need more.

Anyone who cycles the Country Estate Route through Wassenaar will pass right in front of the door. This route takes you past a succession of distinguished country houses and estates that have determined the landscape around Wassenaar for centuries. Many of these estates are open to the public, so you not only ride past stately buildings, but also through gardens, parks and avenues with old trees.

Grandeur and greenery in Wassenaar

This variety in the landscape makes this route extra attractive. You cycle through forest, along meadows and sometimes even up to the dunes. This makes you notice how green and rural Wassenaar is, while cities such as The Hague and Leiden are nearby. Along the way you are regularly surprised with beautiful views, water features and romantic bridges. There are plenty of places to stop by. De Wittenburg Castle and De Paauw town hall are definitely worth a

and romantic bridges. There are

greenery

photo stop. Here at Backershagen you should not miss the octagonal tea dome. The high hill on which it stands was laid out completely manually at the time, so that the distinguished

ladies had a beautiful unobstructed view. The Seringenberg on the royal estate De Horsten was later created in the same way. Up there you also have a beautiful panorama.”

Regional tip from Menno:

From Wassenaar there is a beautiful cycle path through the dunes to Katwijk. It’s nice to eat fish at one of the beach pavilions. Did you know that an air bubble barrier there prevents plastic litter from the Oude Rijn from ending up in the sea? Very innovative and interesting!

Museum cityLeiden

Time for Papoea

Wereldmuseum Leiden

Leiden has no fewer than 13 museums. Science, culture and history are closely intertwined. No wonder, with the oldest university in the Netherlands.

Truth? Art of Doubt

Rijksmuseum Boerhaave

The Forest of Suriname Naturalis

For all current exhibitions, go to streekvanverrassingen.nl/museums

EVENT calendar

Visit Museum Night Leiden, on 6 June, full of music, cultural energy and interactive exhibitions!

Culture in the region

In Wassenaar, the museums boast a large collection of cars and modern art:

• In the Louwman Museum you can see more than 275 showpieces from 130 years of automotive history.

• Be sure to watch and participate in Choreographic Objects by the world-famous choreographer William Forsythe, from 6 June in Museum Voorlinden.

At the beginning of the 20th century, Katwijk was the second largest artists’ village in Europe, which you can still experience with various exhibitions and art events:

• Exhibition Passion for the Sea, until 25 May in the Katwijks Museum

• ‘Katwijk En Plein Air, painting by the sea’, this summer in the DUNAatelier

• Art Week Katwijk, September

Cultural hiking tip! Museum Voorschoten offers guided tours through the town centre. The walking guides will tell you everything they have learned from town historian Jan Sloof.

4 x theatre in the city

The Leidse Schouwburg is the oldest theatre in the Netherlands. On Friday evenings, their Café Caat is the place to be for after-work drinks. They also host a Pub Quiz, talent evening, live music and other cool events. View the Event Calendar on streekvanverrassingen.nl for the entire programme.

In 2026, the Stadsgehoorzaal will celebrate its 200th anniversary! In June, various theatre events are scheduled at the Breestraat in Leiden.

Theater Ins Blau is known for its adventurous and innovative programming. Parking is available next door, at the Haagweg.

Theater de Generator is the only theatre in the Netherlands that exclusively programmes and makes social theatre. It is a place for theatre, dance, performance art, festivals and more.

Tip! Are you coming to Leiden by train or bus? Then you walk towards the centre directly past FREDDY*S, right under the Heineken headquarters. A nice place for a drink or dinner before you go to the theatre.

Regional theatre

In Cultural Centre Voorschoten you will not only find a cosy cinema but also regular plays, by local and national theatre makers. Filmtheater Voorschoten and Cultuurfabriek Voorschoten both have a well-filled programme, for adults and especially children!

Have you heard of the Theaterhuis Amalia by Sheila Lever in Oegstgeest? No curtain or spotlights, but an intimate living room theatre with hardly any distance between audience and actors.

Theater Warenar in Wassenaar presents a varied programme with music, cabaret, theatre and musicals. From a jazz tribute to psychodrama or flamenco: visit this theatre for a wide variety of performances.

In Warmond you will find Theater Het Trefpunt, with cabaret, music, plays and children’s theatre. Going to the theatre on your own? Join surprise encounters! Visit performances where seats are reserved next to other lone theatre lovers, for a good conversation before or after the performance.

www.streekvanverrassingen.nl/en/event-calender

Discover Leiden with the locals

Ratna Lachmansingh, director of the Leiden

International Film Festival, on the Pieterskerkplein

“Leiden’s city centre is full of surprises. My best tip? Explore the city of Rembrandt, Boerhaave and Armin van Buuren as if you were living there, not as if you were just visiting there. Walk through the alleys without a plan, climb the Burcht (castle) and embrace the colourful student life. A relaxing boat trip through the canals is also a good idea for a first acquaintance.

I prefer small, local entrepreneurs. For coffee with something sweet, I often go to I Scream Coffee on the Nieuwstraat. Their vegan pastries are really my guilty pleasure. For lunch, Proeflokaal 1574 is a personal favourite. The year refers to the Relief of Leiden, which is still celebrated exuberantly by the inhabitants every 3 October. This friendly wine bar has a cosy sunny terrace, and you can enjoy delicious food.

If you’re up for a cultural outing, pop into the National Museum of Antiquities on Thursday evenings. There is usually something special to do there. A lecture about Vikings or mummies, for example. The other day there was suddenly a choir singing. For families, the children’s theatre in Café Caat is highly recommended.

As a film lover, I can’t skip Trianon, of course. That’s my place. Not a standard cinema, but a lovingly restored theatre where film is still really alive. You can feel the love for cinema in everything.

From 8 to 18 October, you can enjoy film in all forms at many places in the city during the Leiden International Film Festival. And with the LIFF Summer Special the entire Pieterskerkplein will be transformed into an open-air cinema.

Finally: Order a drink on one of the terrace boats. Take your time. Sit down, watch the passing boats and the people around you.

Then you will certainly discover why I love Leiden.”

Regional TIP from Ratna:

Museum Voorlinden in Wassenaar is a must for lovers of modern art. The building, the gardens and the location on a historic estate make a visit extra worthwhile.

Starboard, port! Starboard, port!

This route via the Sloop Network is over 32 kilometres and about 4.5 hours of sailing. If you don’t have your own boat, rent a sloop from Bootjes en Broodjes, Columbus Watersport or Olympia Charters

The Zijlpoort in Leiden can be a starting point. Via the 400-yearold “polder” waterways, you sail over the river Does into the village of Hoogmade. Look out for the many old windmills

From here it is a short boat ride to the Braassermeer, which is 425 hectares in size! Via the ring canal you then set course for the oldest water sports area in the Netherlands, the Kagerplassen lakes. A network of small ditches, canals, islands, lakes and polders makes this a special nature reserve.

Via Warmond and Oegstgeest you sail partly along the old tow path back to the canal city of Leiden, the birthplace of Rembrandt. Mooring your boat at the boat jetties on the Beestenmarkt and walk straight into the city centre from here.

Stops along the route

Taste products from their own garden at Wine Restaurant Contraste, Hoogmade

Relax like you’re in the Mediterranean at Brasserie Milo, Kaag

Enjoy culinary delights at Plantage 87, near Jachthaven de Brasem, Oude Wetering

Beach vibes? Visit Brasserie Coazy aan ‘t Joppe, 55 moorings in Warmond

Discover Brasserie de Poort in Leiden, with moorings next to the terrace and tasty fruit de mer on the menu.

Wijnrestaurant Contraste

EVENT Calendar

• Harbour Festival Leimuiden, Friday 12 June

• Water recreation day Woubrugge, Saturday 20 June

• Kaags Music Festival, July 5

• Kaag Lake Movie, August 29

• Skipper Days Warmond, 11-13 September

Route

It’s all plain sailing from here

Join Bob on Board for a BBQ on the water or combine a boat tour with a chocolate-making workshop!

Rederij van Hulst is known for its many themed cruises such as the Windmill Cruise from Warmond, the Windmill and Lakes Tour, or the New Herring Trip from Katwijk. The spacious ships are wheelchair accessible.

At Rondvaart Leiden, open boats set sail daily for a one-hour city cruise. Or discover Leiden together with a Rembrandt impersonator during a 2.5-hour boat and walking tour. This ‘Rembrandt’ knows everything about his hometown.

Do you want to take a Leiden dialect course or a sailing quiz with the Leidse Rederij?

From July to September, you sail from Leiden to Katwijk and back again, with their water shuttle ‘Venice of the West’, so you can combine city and beach in one day.

Tip! Visit the exhibition ‘Sailing for Freedom’, until 28 June at the Katwijks Museum. In commemoration of 80 years of freedom, the major role of the Dutch merchant navy during the Second World War is highlighted.

streekvanverrassingen.nl/en/water

Watertips

Dive in... get sporty on the water! Dive in...

From lakes and canals...

• At Doen met Cato you learn to swim in open water or to canoe on ‘t Joppe lake.

• The city centre looks very different from the canals, especially on a SUP from Leiden Supping.

• Canoe for free every Sunday with De Grachtwacht. Clean up Leiden’s canals together and contribute to scientific research into plastic pollution.

... to the sea

• Book a private lesson and learn to sail a catamaran at sea. For waterlovers from 8 to 16 years old, surfing lessons are also recommended, at Catamaran School Zeehelden on the Wassenaarse Slag.

What else?

• For years, Surfschool Katwijk has been organising surf day camps for kids age 7-12 and 12-16 during the school holidays.

• On the Valkenburgse lake you can learn to windsurf or wing foil at GearFreak Surf School. Next door at Brasserie Buitenhuis, you can watch the surfers from the terrace!

• The Kagerplassen lakes are known as the oldest water sports area in the Netherlands. The Kaag Watersport Academy has been giving sailing lessons since 1952.

• You can also enjoy the water in Voorschoten from Watersportcentrum Vlietland, with a nice terrace on the water. The aqua park and the climbing forest can be found on the other side of the lake.

Flowers and Ibiza in

Voorschoten centre

New this year is the Voorschoten flower and plant market, on 16 May. Followed by an Ibiza-style fair on 23 May, to bring in the summer vibes!

Theme markets

5 May Fair in Oegstgeest

On Liberation Day, be sure to visit the vibrant 5 May Fair, with professional sellers and a food court on the Kempenaer street! The Children’s Free Market is also that day on the Terweeweg and surrounding streets.

Book and Paper Art Market

The Old Town Hall Warmond organises an annual Book Market in May, a Paper Art Market and a textile market in June, a curio market in July and an art market in August.

markets

Pure Nature Market

Wassenaar

Artisanal delicacies, stalls with a range of fashion and food, and musical performances; that is the Pure Nature Market Wassenaar. Every last Saturday of the month, until the end of November.

Fair Oude Wetering

Tuesdays at the Tourist Market Katwijk

Visit the fair in Oude Wetering on Saturday 4 July. Stroll around, shop and enjoying music with a cool drink: that’s what you can expect from this special event.

Mussel festival Lange Voort

The Katwijk Tourist Market has been a household name for over 50 years, also among local residents. The market has a different theme every week. Every Tuesday, between June 23 and August 25 in the centre of Katwijk aan Zee.

On Saturday 5 September, Lange Voort Shopping Centre in Oegstgeest will put tables outside and turn on the music, because it’s time for a tasty party with live music and activities.

The oldest horse market in the Netherlands

‘De mart’ in Valkenburg is the oldest horse market in the Netherlands, with the 1079th edition on Wednesday 9 September! Visit the ring riding, the horse market raffle, fair and many music performances.

Voorschoten will also be dominated by horse races from 24 to 26 July. With the traditional Horse Market on the Voorstraat and a festive annual market.

To the market

More weekly markets

The Leiden market has been located around the Nieuwe Rijn, in the middle of the city centre, for about nine centuries. The Hoogstraat connects the two oldest bridges in Leiden, the Visbrug and the Sint Jansbrug. Around the 12th century, these bridges formed the only fixed connection across the Rhine in the area between Utrecht and the north sea at Katwijk. As a result, fishermen and farmers from far and wide came here to trade their wares.

Tuesday Leimuiden (morning), Oegstgeest, Wassenaar

Wednesday Leiden centre

Thursday Woubrugge

Friday Katwijk, Roelofarendsveen (morning), Voorschoten

Saturday Leiden centre

From the farmer From the farmer

750 jaars of Zoeterwoude

This year Zoeterwoude celebrates its 750th anniversary. This was once an area where fresher (“zoeter” in Dutch) water was found than elsewhere in the region, which was better for agricultural land. Hence the name! In the area there are many nice farms, several of which are open to visit.

Tip! Download the Farmer’s Cheese cycle route through Zoeterwoude and Leiden for free. streekvanverrassingen.nl/routes

70 16 09 64

De leukste bezoekadressen:

• Try ice cream made from local milk at IJsboerderij De Jong, Zoeterwoude

• Feed and pet animals at Farm ‘t Geertje, Zoeterwoude

• Cuddle with cows at De Elza Hoeve Farm, Leiden

• Stay overnight at the campsite of Boerderij Veldhoeve, Zoeterwoude

• Take a look at the stables at Nellesteijn Farm, Wassenaar

• Enjoy the terrace at Boehoeiend Stal den Hollander, Wassenaar

• Take a tour of regenerative cheese farm De Eenzaamheid, Warmond. You can also spend the night on the island!

• Serve your own milk and farmer’s ice cream at the Mariahoeve farm, Woubrugge

You can find all these tips and more on streekvanverrassingen.nl/farmers

Treat yourself in Leiden

Leiden continues to surprise. In the historic streets you will find shops with character and restaurants you’ll want to come back to time and time again. From new outfits to long lunches and excellent dinners, tempting treats are always just around the corner in this city. These are the three places to shop, and three locations to enjoy the city atmosphere.

3 x fantastic shopping

Fashion with character

At Open32 you will find a strong selection of jeans and casual fashion from well-known brands. Think of good denim, comfortable basics and items that you can combine effortlessly. Ideal if your wardrobe is in need of a fresh spring update.

Small

store,

big in style

MOOS in the Burgsteeg is a combination of concept store and coffee bar. While the smell of fresh coffee greets you, you’ll discover a carefully curated collection of accessories, jewellery, and gifts. Ideal for a short coffee stop while shopping and for those small finds that make an outfit or interior just that little bit more personal.

Timeless children’s toys

Tokkelientje has been a household name in Leiden for years. This colourful toy store is all about fantasy and quality. From wooden toys to original gifts: here you will find toys that children will really play with.

3 x terraces in the city centre

The most sun

Where the Old and New Rhine meet, you will find the spacious terrace of Scarlatti. This restaurant has been a household name in Leiden and the surrounding area since the 80s. Find a nice spot, because this is one of the sunniest terraces in the city. On the menu you will find delicious specialties of the house, with mussels in the summer.

A new view of the castle

Grand Café De Burcht opened last year. Enjoy its courtyard garden, right at the foot of the more than thousand-year-old ‘de Burcht’ castle of Leiden. A quiet place in the middle of the city, ideal for lunch or a long evening with a good glass of wine.

Urban atmosphere

This terrace really gives you the vibrant city atmosphere, alive but at the same time a quiet place with a view of the Hooglandse Kerk. Join Bar Lokaal at any time of the day, for an early coffee, long lunch, drinks with friends or a relaxed dinner.

Great shopping!

Renovated town centre of Wassenaar

The historic town centre of Wassenaar has been renovated. On 30 May, visit the festive unveiling

of the only Morris column in the Netherlands, a classic Parisian-style advertising column.

In the Langstraat you will find two sisters, each with their own shop. First you can go to Coco’s Kloffie for a cool outfit. A few doors down you can get the best clothes and gifts for children at Atelier Soof. For the wine lover, there is the Wassenaar Wine Walk on 12 September. About 30 local entrepreneurs open their doors in the afternoon for a mini wine tasting with matching snacks while shopping.

The Kempenaer street has been around for more than 110 years. The rich history of this shopping area lives on in all the businesses and its chic appearance. You can see that in the fashion stores and delicatessens. In clothes shop June. you can enrich your wardrobe and then choose matching accessories at Jewels By Marthje. Choose from a wide range of wines at De Gouden Ton and catering from Het Beleg and make it a pleasant evening!

A visit to Voorschoten

In the Voorstraat you will find many lovely terraces and in the Schoolstraat the nicest shops. Brand new is La Maison Fleurie, a florist with Dutch artificial flowers. Bij57 is a great place for a cup of coffee, but you can also buy the most beautiful gifts here. And Label by Label has a beautiful collection for women, including MyJewellery accessories for mothers and daughters.

Event tip! Visit Het Weekend van Voorschoten on 12 and 13 September, a weekend full of activities.

Shopping by the sea in Katwijk

In Katwijk you can stroll past around 100 shops by the sea, including the new Norah for her and Pand23 for him. Enjoy a cup of coffee at lunchroom Goud in between.

Fish is the local delicacy, so be sure not to skip Schuitemaker Fish for a bowl of “kibbeling” to eat with your hands or an extensive lunch in the restaurant. From the centre you can walk straight onto the beach, enjoy!

Great shopping!

Tip! Take the bus from Leiden Central Station or park your car under the dunes in the Boulevard Zeezijde parking garage.

Dining along the Rhine

The Rhine (‘Oude Rijn’ in Dutch) flows right through the centre of Katwijk. Since 2025, you can find the characteristic Restaurant ‘t Oude Raadhuis alongside the river, where you can enjoy worldly flavours. If you go downstream towards the sea, you will come across De Roskam, a prominent building in Katwijk aan den Rijn for centuries. In recent years, this has become a beautiful location for parties and celebrations. At Proeflokaal

De Buuren you can just walk in for something delicious to eat or drink.

Famous in Naples, at home in Rijnsburg

From mother’s cooking to dishes that celebrities were queuing up for.

Gion Borno gained name and fame in Naples for his eccentric appearance, experimental way of cooking and extravagant lifestyle. Until it became too much for him and he disappeared... Now, decades later, Gion Borno has decided to share his genius again. Taste it in Rijnsburg!

‘t

Oude Raadhuis

Culinary From

‘Where the ships turned’

Katwijk was a well-known fishing village but had no seaport. The ships were pulled into the sea from the beach. In the inner harbour, the fish were unloaded for trade in the rest of the country. At the end of the harbour, the quay was round so that the ships could turn. This is called the Zwaaikom. Here you will now find family restaurant De Beslagkom, with delicious pancakes and grill dishes. The terrace has a view of the historic harbour and inside the children can play freely!

delights in Katwijk From the Rhine to the sea

Award-winning beach pavilions

In recent years, several beach pavilions in Katwijk have been voted Best Beach Pavilion in South Holland! Experience the relaxed beach life just 9 kilometres from Leiden Central Station. You can get there in twenty minutes by express bus. Ten of the beach pavilions are even open all year round.

Food and Drinks in Katwijk

Holiday feeling on the boulevard

The most beautiful boulevard in the Netherlands can be found in Katwijk. With a wide strip of dunes and a spacious parking garage underneath, between the sea and the town centre. Grand Café Restaurant ZEN opened its doors in 2025. On the boulevard you will experience the real holiday atmosphere of a coastal town.

Art on the Coast

Eric Westhoek, chairman of Art Committee of Katwijk

“Art lovers will find a surprisingly rich and vibrant art culture in Katwijk aan Zee. Since the second half of the nineteenth century, the village has been known as an artists’ colony. In the 19th century, painters from home and abroad flocked to the coast, attracted by the bright light, the

sea and the difficult daily life of the inhabitants. Around 1900, Katwijk even grew into one of the largest artists’ villages in Europe. The barges on the beach, the dunes and the fishing families were rewarding subjects in their oeuvre.

Regional tip from Eric:

Galerie de Pomp in Warmond often organises surprising exhibitions. The gallery is located on a beautiful square in the historic town centre. Next door, the grand café De Oude School is a great place for lunch or a drink.

This rich history is cherished in the Katwijks Museum, which is housed in a former shipowner’s house, on the edge of the shopping area. The museum displays an impressive collection of paintings by both Dutch and international artists, including Bernard Blommers, Willy Sluiter, Jozef Israëls, Jan Toorop, and Hendrik Willem Mesdag. Based on themes

such as fishing, traditional costumes and village life, the permanent collection provides a broad, colourful picture of Katwijk’s rich artistic heritage. The museum regularly organises changing exhibitions, in which the historical masterpieces are combined with contemporary art.

At the same time, the tradition of painting lives on to this day in our free DUNAatelier, which is located directly on the boulevard, opposite the lighthouse. Here, both professional and amateur artists exhibit their work, which is often inspired by the same elements that attracted their predecessors: sea, beach and dunes. From 4 to 11 July, you can see a variety of artists at work in the open air during the painters’ festival ‘Katwijk en plein air’. The art week at the end of September is also very worthwhile. As a final recommendation, I mention the Sculpture Route: a walk that will definitely make you happy. Katwijk aan Zee has a lot to offer. Even those who don’t like art often find inspiration here.”

Newculinary hotspots

From the second quarter of 2026 you are welcome at Restaurant PuuRR aan de Rijn in Oegstgeest, on the banks of the Rhine with a beautiful terrace on the water.

Also new in Oegstgeest is Loetje. Taste their famous steak in the middle of a relaxed, green environment on the Klinkenbergerplas lake.

In May 2026, Bistro Maris will open in the Kloksteeg in Leiden. A restaurant with fish, crustaceans and shellfish and an oyster bar. The sister of Eetcafé De Gaper.

From this year you will find Youth Restaurant Wassenaar at a new location, every last Monday of the month in Pizzeria La Scala. Will you also drop by?

Polly’s is a new pizza and wine bar in Katwijk. With a small and regularly changing pizza menu, you can certainly come back here more often. Simple, fresh and uncomplicated... and a bit funky.

The Italian Mona Lisa has a new place in Voorschoten. In the dishes you can taste the warmth of a family that has its roots in Puglia.

Café Lola will be open from April in Leiden, on the Nieuwe Rijn in the middle of the city centre. A stylish and accessible café for good wines and pure dishes.

A little further on, on the Stille Rijn, hosts Eric and Oscar welcome you to the new Eetcafé Dolly. A cosy eatery all day long and your favourite pub in the evening.

De Pannekoekenbakker Woubrugge has recently opened on the Leidse Vaart. The former granary from 1930 has been converted into an attractive pancake restaurant.

Follow @streekvanverrassingen on Instagram for more culinary tips.

Regional products and old farms

Ina Versteegen still makes real Leiden cheese

In the old polder landscape of the Zoeterwoudse Weipoort lies the dairy farm of Theo and Ina Versteegen, De Leidse Kaas Koe. Here, it’s all about craftsmanship, patience and love for the product. From milking the cows to ripening the cheeses: everything is done on their own property. Their products regularly win prizes.

“Our specialty is the real ‘Leiden farmer’s cheese’. This is unusual because it is made from skimmed milk and therefore contains much less fat. The addition of cumin gives it its characteristic spicy taste and the two crossed keys on the red crust refer to the coat of arms of Leiden. This mark guarantees that it is authentic Leiden cheese. It is a protected regional product that is only made by a handful of farmers in the area. It also has a long history, and this is because this low-fat cheese has a naturally long shelf life.

This made it ideal for provisions for the crews of VOC ships in the 17th and 18th centuries.

In addition to the Leiden farmer’s cheese, I also make other types, including Gouda, herb cheese and various dairy products. I sell them on Fridays and Saturdays in our farm shop, in addition to other delicacies such as jam, mustard, eggnog and freshly baked apple pie. I also have a nice assortment of gift items.

Regional tip from Ina:

If I have an hour free, I like to cycle to villages such as Woubrugge, Oud Ade or Hoogmade. I really enjoy looking at other farm shops and stalls. I always come home with something tasty.

The Weipoort has several monumental farms and is connected to Zoeterwoude village by historic church paths. You can buy fresh products in various places: flowers and vegetables at the self-harvest garden Bij Mei, a little further on a box of eggs and at Captein there is a milk tap. In the summer young and old settle down on the terrace of the IJsboerderij (ice cream farm). At goat farm ‘t Geertje you can feed lambs and rent a rowing boat or canoe. Zoeterwoude is celebrating its 750th anniversary this year, but it is still very much alive.”

History and Medicine

Emeritus professor Hennie Völker-Dieben in the Dragon Hall

“The Oud Poelgeest estate and castle in Oegstgeest has a rich cultural and scientific significance. The estate was inhabited in the 18th century by the famous physician and botanist Herman Boerhaave, who is considered one of the founders of modern medicine.

Boerhaave was a professor at the University of Leiden and enjoyed international fame. He changed medical education by teaching students directly at the bedside, which was revolutionary at the time. His systematic way of observing and his emphasis on empirical research have had a lasting influence on medicine. He was also a passionate botanist and played an important role in the development of the Hortus botanicus botanical garden

in Leiden. His work contributed to a better understanding of plants and their medicinal uses.

Boerhaave was born in Voorhout. The family was not rich. Through success, for which he worked very hard, he gained access to the better circles of the city. He married Maria Dröhlenfeaux, heiress of a wealthy Leiden patrician. Her fortune enabled him to buy Oud Poelgeest. The house hardly fascinated him, but the gardens offered space for his enormous collection of plants, bulbs and seeds, which was even larger than that of the Hortus botanicus. Maria took care of the dilapidated castle and gave it the appropriate allure. The elegant marble staircase still bears witness to that grandeur. Oud Poelgeest

was not only a place of study and inspiration for them, but also a place of refuge. Here their only child would be safe from urban dangers and epidemics.

I think it’s special that both the park and the castle are free of charge and that you can still find elements of both the classic garden and Zocher’s later design here. I can never get enough of the many special plants and trees. And then I usually treat myself to a drink in the Coach House.”

KNOWLEDGE Event Calendar:

• The first and largest life sciences and health cluster in the Netherlands welcomes you during the Open Day during the Dutch Bio Science Week in Leiden and Oegstgeest – 4 July

• Discover a unique programme of art and knowledge in Leiden during the Days of Art&Science – 14-20 September

• Enchanting culture and science come together during the Night of Discoveries in Leiden – 20 September

• Visit the Open Day of Unmanned Valley in Katwijk, the epicentre for unmanned technology – Mid-November

Regional tip from Hennie:

The Leiden Hortus is the oldest botanical garden in the Netherlands. You can’t miss it. Be sure to also take a look at the Academy Building, right next to the entrance on the Rapenburg.

Vacation close to home Vacation close to home

Sleeping in the dunes or at the farm?

In the region you will find no fewer than three campsites in the dunes of Wassenaar and Katwijk. Wake up to the salty sea air and within walking distance of cappuccinos at a beach pavilion.

Camping at the farm is also fantastic! Have a nice breakfast with local farmer’s cheese, put on your boots and cuddle with the cows and goats. At Hoeve Rustdam in Zoeterwoude, you can go stand-up paddleboarding as well as camping!

Vakantiepark Koningshof Glamping

I don’t have a tent!

Do you prefer something more luxurious but want to go into nature? Strandcamping Zuidduinen offers safari tents for two or more people, Camping Vlietland has upgraded their hikers’ cabins on the lake and Holiday Park Kaag is the newest Europarcs location, with the Kagerplassen lakes in your backyard.

Do you want a view of the canals, a spa or a T. Rex room? In Leiden you can choose from numerous hotels within walking distance of (or even in the middle of) the historic city centre. Visit one of the 13 museums, discover Rembrandt’s Leiden or take a boat trip. Then go shopping and take in the city atmosphere from one of the boat terraces. You’ll be spoilt for choice!

Start your day at the beach

Book a beach house in Katwijk and have breakfast on your own veranda. In the evening you can cook for yourself as the sun sets over the sea or relax at an adjacent beach bar. That’s really the holiday feeling!

Scan for Vacation close to home. All accommodations can be found on streekvanverrassingen.nl/overnightstays

Land of windmills and lakes

Ton Engelbart is a miller at the Lijker 1 in Rijpwetering

“As a miller, I feel connected to the landscape and history of our region. I make sure that the water in the polder remains at the right level. In addition, I am committed with great pleasure to the preservation of the 52 monumental mills of the Rijnlandse Molenstichting, twenty of which are located in the municipality of Kaag en Braassem.

These mills are not just old buildings; they tell the story of centuries of water management. Without these mills, this area simply would not exist as we know it today. They are of enormous cultural-historical value, because they bear witness to our struggle with water and how people and nature remain in balance with each other. To this day, these mills help to keep our polders dry. And all that purely on wind power, so very sustainable. This polder mill was built in 1780, but its mechanism still manages to bridge the difference in level of more

than four meters. Although electric pumping stations do most of the work these days, they fall short during heavy rainfall. The capacity of the turbines is many times larger. The power of those rotating blades remains impressive to me too.

I feel really privileged with this place. Here I live in harmony with the landscape. The polders, ditches and lakes

Regional tip from Ton:

At windmill De Put in the heart of Leiden you can see how corn is ground. You can also buy flour products and bread mixes to bake with at home.

form a unique, traditional Dutch whole. Here you can feel the wind and hear the birds above your head or in the water. When you stand on the dike here, you experience nature down to your fibres.

You can cycle for hours between the eleven villages of Kaag and Braassem. The windmills form fixed beacons in the landscape – landmarks that guide you on

Event Calendar Highlights:

• Visit dozens of windmills in the Region on 9 and 10 May, during National Windmill Day. View all participating mills via streekvanverrassingen.nl/windmills

• Be surprised on Saturday 12 September during the Mill Night in Kaag en Braassem, with about 14 beautifully lit windmills and special sailing and walking routes.

your journey, as it were. The cycle route ‘Mills and More’ uses the cycle junction network and takes you past many mills and other places of interest. Allow yourself to experience this vastness.”

Out and about with the kids

Recommendations by Nova (11)

“I love ice creams very much! We often go to Moments powered by Danice in Voorschoten and Luciano’s in Wassenaar, but the farmer’s ice creams in Zoeterwoude are also very tasty!”

All the ice cream parlours in the region are located on streekvanverrassingen.nl/summer

“We are going to organise another team outing with my hockey team. I thought of Madness minigolf in Warmond, do you know it? That’s where I celebrated my birthday party, those holes are really too funny and there are selfie spots everywhere. But I would also like the mega SUP at the Valkenburgse lake or the Aquapark at Vlietland. We can cycle to that, it’s close!”

kids

“By the way, did you know that I also did the audio tour through Leiden with my friend Maud? A walk through the city especially for me and my friends – super fun! And on the way we got delicious chocolate at Soetenso.”

visitleiden.nl/en/audiotour

“With the Museum Card I think I visited all the museums in Leiden with my parents and sister. My favourite museum is still Naturalis, because of the stuffed dog on the stairs and the room with all the stuffed animals. So beautiful!”

Out and about with the kids

CORPUS Kids Academy

Attention curious children! Every month, CORPUS organises a free live event on the human body. Experts from healthcare and science take you on a ‘journey’ through their field with interactive activities and surprising experiments.

New attractions in Duinrell

The nostalgic Frog Roller Coaster is making way for a new Frog Coaster! With a motocross theme and Rick the Frog leading the way, you’ll race smoothly through the trees. You can also race in the new Duinrell Drifter. Step into one of the nine rally cars and drift like a real top driver. With the lever you are in control: as soon as the car starts moving and you move the lever, the wheels turn and you are fully drifting.

Out and about with the family

The Typical Dutch Tour is a unique sightseeing tour in a classic Volkswagen van. Explore the colourful coast near Leiden and discover local Dutch culture and history on a three-hour tour. You coordinate the programme together and are picked up at a desired location.

Playing in nature

Nature playground Voorschoten contains five worlds in which everyone can play. From toddler area to play forest. Pick your own fruit in the orchard. Mmh, that’s nice! Four play worlds are also accessible to children in wheelchairs. Enjoy a delicious pancake around the corner at Tante Tokkie!

streekvanverrassingen.nl/en/kids

Event Calendar

Leidse Hofjes Festival, 24 and 25 May

Beats & Bites, Voorschoten, June 13 and 14

Join Us & Picnic Festival, Katwijk, 20 June

39th Heemskerk Poldercross, Oegstgeest, June 27

Circus Snor, Zoeterwoude, 26-28 June

North Sea Summer Festival, Katwijk, 6-15 August

A Midsummer Night At Oud Poelgeest, 21 juni

Pride Leiden, 5 September

Polder tour, Kaag and Braassem, September 6

Wine Walk, Wassenaar, September 12

Orange festivities Roelofarendsveen, 11-20 September

Art Route Leiden, 26 and 27 September

*Dates and tips are subject to change.

Jan Wolkers month, Oegstgeest, October

Featured

Leidse Rembrandt Dagen

On 11 and 12 July, you can walk straight into the 17th century. The entire Pieterskerk and Academy Building neighbourhoods will be transformed, complete with hundreds of actors, volunteer extras and historical materials. Are you coming too?

Heritage Days

Visit the Heritage Days on 12 and 13 September. The theme is “Resilient heritage: in times of uncertainty”. View participating buildings via streekvanverrassingen.nl/monuments

The stories Duivenvoordeof

Historian Victor Laurentius spent his childhood on the estate. He has written several books about the Second World War and the Soldier of Orange.

“Duivenvoorde Estate and Castle has been around for 800 years. The noble families of Van Wassenaer, Steengracht and Schimmelpenninck, who successively inhabited the castle, left their mark on it generation after generation. When I walk through the park, it seems as if time has stood still. Yet a lot has changed since my childhood, when our family lived in the Orangery on the estate.

For a child, this was a great place to grow up. I liked to build huts, climb trees and especially treasure hunts, because there was a lot to find. During the Second World War, Duivenvoorde, like so many historic estates, was strategically used by the German occupier. For example, ammunition was stored in the coach house, including parts of V-rocket

launchers. When the liberation came, these supplies were detonated. The explosion caused enormous damage. The coach house was completely wiped out and the castle itself, including the magnificent Marot Hall, was so badly damaged that walls and windows had to be propped up. The gardens around the castle were strewn with bullet casings and shards of the precious porcelain collection for many years. And some trees still bear the scars of shrapnel.

Regional tip from Victor:

In the forest of the Huys te Warmont in Warmond you can see the remains of a German V1 launch track. The beautiful walk there is definitely worth it.

The vegetable garden was also destroyed at the time. In recent years, however, a new orchard has been planted in the Leiden garden, and a vegetable garden has been planted. The vegetable garden provides herbs, fruit and flowers for the restaurant Paviljoen van Duivenvoorde. There you can have lunch or enjoy a drink in the sun. The harvest is also used to make jams, chutneys and jellies. You can buy them in the estate shop.

For centuries, Duivenvoorde has preserved memories of local residents, their traces in the landscape and the realisation that even a seemingly timeless castle is not outside the storms of history. A story to which new chapters are still being added.”

Routes Routes

Hiking, strolling, or would you rather go cycling? Everything is possible in the region. Cycle through the dunes of Wassenaar and Katwijk, or hike through the centre of the historic city of Leiden. Simply beautiful!

The Leiden Loop offers the perfect starting point for an unforgettable tour along all the highlights of Leiden, the City of Discoveries. The “Leiden Loop” walking tour is available at the VVV Leiden Tourist Office, Stationsweg 26, for €6.95.

The Dunes and Searoute, a 33-kilometer cycling path through Leiden, Wassenaar, and Katwijk, takes you past the most beautiful nature reserves and numerous sights.

Cycle through the Hollandse Duinen National Park, stroll along one of the many beach entrances along the route, enjoy a culinary break at a beach pavilion in Wassenaar or Katwijk, explore the lively boulevard of Katwijk, or visit Rembrandt’s birthplace in Leiden.

Colophon

Hollandse Duinen

National Park

Walk through the dunes from Wassenaar to Katwijk. This vast nature reserve was created 5,000 years ago. Watch the Scottish Highlander cows from a distance, because they like privacy. Will you find your way through this labyrinth?

Initiative and final editing: Leiden&Partners

Design: Campaigns&Results

Interviews: MercuriusMedia

In collaboration with: Dorpsmarketing Oegstgeest, Stichting Warmond aan de Kaag, Stichting Kaag en Braassem Promotie, municipality of Leiden, municipality of Katwijk, municipality of Voorschoten, municipality of Wassenaar, municipality of Oegstgeest, municipality of Kaag en Braassem, municipality of Zoeterwoude.

All dates and tips in this magazine are subject to change.

@streekvanverrassingen @streekvanverrassingen

Discover the highlights

Ask a Local

Scan and start your conversation Your personal tourist guide through the region

24/7 - all languages Via Whatsapp or streekvanverrassingen.nl

Prefer personal contact? Feel welcome at the Tourist Office!

VVV Leiden, Stationsweg 26

VVV Katwijk, Zwaaikom 13

VVV Wassenaar, Langstraat 40

VVV Voorschoten, Voorstraat 17

VVV Warmond, Gemeentehaven 3 Region