Student accommodation near Leiden University

Leiden University has seats in two cities: Leiden and The Hague.

In this article we’ll tell you everything you need to know about the institution, so that you can find student accommodation near Leiden University.

Student flats and spare rooms near Leiden University

In this section we’ll tell you about different locations of the institution and the best neighbourhoods to live near them.

Where’s Leiden University located?

It’s located in two cities: Leiden and The Hague. It has seven faculties in these two cities.

Leiden Campus

Six of the institution's seven faculties are located in this city:

• Archaeology

Located in the south-east of the city, on the banks of one of Leiden's canals, 15 minutes by public transport from the centre. In front of the faculty you’ll find the well-known Van der Werf Park. The Faculty of Archaeology is the leading academic institute for archaeology in the Netherlands and one of the largest in the world.

• Humanities

It’s just a 10-minute walk from the city centre. This faculty is located next to the former botanical garden, Hortus Botanicus Leiden. It offers courses such as Philosophy, Art History, Art, Literature, Film and Cultural Sciences, among others.

• Law

The Faculty of Law in Leiden is based in two restored historic buildings, in the old town of Leiden. In the same place we find the Faculties of Archaeology and Humanities.

• Social and Behavioural Sciences

It’s a 10-minute walk from the city centre, next to Leiden University Medical Center. You can study Psychology, Education and Political Science, among others.

• Science

Located in the north of the city, it takes 15 minutes by public transport from the city centre. Located in the Leiden Bio Science Park area, this faculty has more than 6,000 students of mathematics, physics and chemistry.

• Medicine

Located in the Leiden University Medical Center, it’s a 10-minute walk from the city centre. Classes are held both in the hospital and in the surrounding buildings.

The Hague Campus

This campus is 10 minutes away by public transport from the centre. It has more than 7,000 students from 103 nationalities from all over the world. The campus is home to the seven faculties of the University. In addition, there is one more faculty that is not based in Leiden:

• Governance and Global Affairs (FGGA). FGGA teaches on social and governance issues such as terrorism, the organisation of public administration, climate change and economic crisis.

Best neighbourhoods to live in near Leiden University

Depending on the faculty you are going to study at, you’ll have to choose where to look for accommodation. In this section we’ll tell you about the best neighbourhoods to live in near Leiden campus.

Station

This district is so named because it’s home to the main train station, Leiden Centraal. The main advantage is that it’s very well connected to the rest of the city. It’s a 15-minute walk from the university campus in Leiden. Moreover, if your classes are in The Hague, you’ll be able to get there in just 10 minutes by public transport. However, note that being in the centre the price of accommodation may be a little higher.

Pieterswijk

This neighbourhood is in the area of the Humanities and Archaeology faculties and next to the botanical garden Hortus Botanicus Leiden. It’s a residential neighbourhood in the southern part of Leiden, famous for its canals. Its streets are filled with restaurants and cafés frequented by students.

Pesthuiswijk

It’s a residential neighbourhood located in the north of the city. There you can find the Leiden University Medical Center, so it’s in the same area as the faculties. It takes about 10 minutes to walk to the historic centre and 20 minutes by public transport to The Hague campus.

Student residences near Leiden University

Like many Universities in the Netherlands, Leiden University doesn’t have a central campus or public student residences. Students often search for accommodation on their own through platforms such as Erasmus Play to easily find safe options.

There’s a range of private residences in Leiden, although they tend to offer furnished flats and not residences as we know from other cities. Note that prices tend to be higher and the locations are more central.

Erasmus at Leiden University

• The classes of the Erasmus programmes are in English, so a minimum level of English is required to be able to follow and understand the contents.
• ESN (Erasmus Student Network) is based in Leiden! This organisation is in charge of a calendar of activities during the course so that you can meet and integrate with other students.

FAQ about Leiden University