Leiden is one of the most charming cities in the Netherlands, a compact university town halfway between Amsterdam and The Hague. The oldest university in the country was founded here in 1575, and the student population gives the city a lively, youthful energy that belies its centuries of history.
The heart of Leiden is criss-crossed by canals lined with lime trees and old brick buildings. Most of the main sights cluster along or near the Rapenburg, widely considered one of the most beautiful canals in the country. The Rijksmuseum van Oudheden has an excellent collection of Egyptian, Greek, and Roman artifacts. The Hortus Botanicus, one of the oldest botanical gardens in the world, was planted in 1578 and remains a peaceful retreat. The Pieterskerk holds the tomb of John Robinson, leader of the Pilgrim Fathers, who lived in Leiden before sailing to America.
Leiden is also the birthplace of Rembrandt, and the city makes much of the connection. The scale is manageable -- you can walk from one end to the other in twenty minutes -- and the density of things to see, eat, and drink along the way makes it an easy and rewarding day out, or a fine base for exploring the western Netherlands.