One of Leiden's oldest pubs, on Breestraat in the heart of the city. The building dates from the 15th century and the interior is a proper Dutch brown café — dark wood, low ceilings, and the comfortable patina of centuries of drinking. The name means "The Gilded Jar."
De Vergulde Kruik is a student pub, a locals' pub, and a tourist pub all at once, which is the mark of a genuinely good bar. The beer selection is solid, the atmosphere is convivial, and the building has enough history to fill a short book. Good terrace on the Breestraat in summer.