Hortus Botanicus Leiden Museum

Address: Hortus Botanicus Leiden, Rapenburg 73, 2311 GJ Leiden, Netherlands

Website: https://www.hortusleiden.nl

Hours: Daily 10am-5pm (seasonal variations)

Admission: Adults €9 (approx.)

Hortus Botanicus Leiden is the historic botanical garden of Leiden University in South Holland, Netherlands, founded in 1590. It was created as a medicinal and teaching garden and remains an active centre for plant collections, education and research.

The garden combines historic beds established in the 16th and 17th centuries with modern greenhouses that display tropical, subtropical and alpine collections. It contains living collections used for botanical study and public education, including rare and economically important plant species.

Located close to Leiden’s university buildings and city centre, the garden is a compact urban botanical site with scheduled public openings and educational programming.

• Founding date: Founded in 1590, it is one of the oldest botanical gardens in continuous operation in the world and was established to support teaching and research at Leiden University.

What to See#

• Historic garden plots: Historic central garden plots date to the foundation of the garden in 1590 and reflect its role as a teaching and research garden for Leiden University.
• Greenhouses and collections: A collection of greenhouses and specialised beds houses tropical, subtropical and alpine plants used for education and conservation by the associated university departments.

Hortus Botanicus Leiden is in the centre of Leiden. Take an NS train to Leiden Centraal (intercity and sprinter services from Amsterdam, The Hague and Rotterdam); from Leiden Centraal it’s an easy 10-15 minute walk (about 1.0-1.3 km) - head off Stationsplein onto Breestraat and follow signs onto Rapenburg to the garden. The site is also a short bike ride from the station and is well signed from the city centre; central parking is limited, so public transport or cycling is recommended.

• Visit in the morning on weekdays to avoid school groups and enjoy the greenhouses at their warmest and quietest hours.
• Enter from the main Rapenburg side where the historical garden buildings and greenhouses are concentrated - that lets you follow the planned circuit without backtracking.
• Don't skip the historic glasshouses and the smaller themed beds inside the garden; they are compact but house the collection that explains the garden's 17th‑century botanical history.