Leiden Square (Leidseplein)
Leiden Square (Leidseplein)
Leiden Square (Leidseplein)
4
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Planning a night out in Amsterdam? Head down to Leiden Square (Leidseplein,) which is known as the center of nightlife where you can choose from hundreds of bars, clubs, restaurants and discos that would suit every style and taste.
Duration: 2-3 hours
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The area
Neighbourhood: Centrum
Amsterdam’s buzzing hub, with its sprawling network of tram rails and a seemingly constant flow of tourists and commuters, yields convenient access to some of the best sightseeing, shopping, and street life in Europe. Closest at hand are the Royal Palace, the quaint shops of Haalremmerdijk, the pedestrianized zones Kalverstraat and Dam Square with popular neighborhoods such as the Red Light District, and the Canal Ring hardly more than a moment’s stroll away. With the well-connected Centraal Station as Centrum’s base, it's easy to travel farther afield via one of the city’s iconic trams.
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
2,270 reviews
Excellent
953
Very good
957
Average
293
Poor
50
Terrible
17
Flitz8-A foodie travels
Amsterdam, The Netherlands3,010 contributions
Nov 2023 • Solo
This is one of popular squares in Amsterdam, food and drink are nearby and lots of shops around,be careful of trams and bicycles as pedestrian
Written December 20, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
🌈🌈🌈happyopenmindedtraveler🌈🌈🌈
The Netherlands358,517 contributions
Dec 2023 • Solo
I like to walk around here sometimes. There are always people around here during the way but somehow it never gets too crowded. There are theatres, a cinema, the Apple store, shops, cafes, restaurants etc here, more than enough actually to keep one occupied, whether as a local or as a visitor to Amsterdam. Welcome to Amsterdam!!!✌
Written December 12, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Brenda R
2 contributions
Sept 2023 • Couples
Food and drink are in abundance in the square. Great place to people watch, or just sit and talk. Highly recommend
Written September 30, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
wintrox31
DC6 contributions
Aug 2023 • Family
Stayed in Amsterdam and accidentally found ourselves in Leiden and lived it. Great scenery and cool town to visit for a evening of dinner, walking, and enjoying the night.
Written August 28, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ROY W
5 contributions
Apr 2023 • Couples
My phone got stolen in Amsterdam. We boarded the tram near Leidseplein on our way to the train station around 2 pm, both sober. The ticket machine was broken, so we had to buy the tickets after we boarded, apparently it was the same for many others, so the ticket window was jammed with people. Two seconds after my hand was off the phone so I could reach the wallet to buy the tickets, the phone was gone.
We got off two stops later and reported it to the police. While we were filling our registration form, an Irish family walked in. The lady on the same tram lost her phone as well. We had a bit of chat, the lady was way more frustrated than I was because she hadn’t backed up her photos for years, and all the memories were gone.
While we were chatting, a group of girls came in, one girl’s phone got taken away out of her bag. The story got funnier when the police offered me the signed form. A gentleman walked in as well, without saying a word but a simple eye contact and a nod, we knew we were welcoming a new member to our club. It was a 30 mins stay in the police station, four groups of people made the station quite crowded. You know you are not getting your phone back when you see this, because though you can give exactly the time when your phone is taken, you can suggest them to go through the CCTV on the tram right above ticket window, they still won’t have time to do anything but fill out form after form for you.
When you google ‘Amsterdam’, ‘phone’ and ‘stolen’, someone asked the same question about what to do after their phone got stolen when they boarded the tram from Leidseplein to the train station on Tripadvisor nine years ago. Nine years are enough for a teenager to finish their high school and even university to start a new job, it is also long enough for you to move to a new country and start a new life.
It is interesting to imagine that the same person who finished their high school and came to Amsterdam for a happy celebration. Their phone got stolen, everything including their graduation photos were gone. They carried on with their life and finally made peace with Amsterdam after nine years. They finished their university, started their new job, met the one they wanted to spend the rest of their life with, and when they finally decided to go on their honeymoon, Amsterdam was on the list. They told their partner about their lost phone as a funny story when they arrived in Leidseplein again, and after they boarded the tram, when they put their hand in the pocket, the nightmare came back again. Nine years of memory was gone, as if they travelled by in time.
The story is unlikely to happen since no one uses the same phone for nine years anymore, but ‘every five minutes, there is a phone stolen in Amsterdam’ said the police and I quoted, there is no guarantee that nothing similar would have happened to someone who saved half a year for this trip and another half a year for a new phone.
I have recently finished the last episode of Season 5 of ‘How to get away with murder ‘, Annalise gave a tear dropping speech about why some people deserve a second chance, especially when they were systematically abused and oppressed, which I can’t agree more. I have seen examples of people who managed to change lives around entirely and none of these would’ve happened if they weren’t given that second chance. However, as much as news like to focus on the criminals, very few about the victims were covered in most repots, where they were from, what their lives were like, how they were affected by the crime, all these were much less eye catching, therefore neglected.
People are way too obsessed to find a perfect victim nowadays, otherwise it is going to be your fault that theft happens to you. ‘You should be more careful’ is what most people hear when they tell such stories, however, if you are not planning to make your trip all about holding your phone and wallet tight in hands and ignore the views around you, you can’t be always careful. When more than ten people gather around that small ticket window pushing you here and there, meanwhile you need to find a handle, so you won’t fall to the ground when the tram started to wobble away, there will be a chance your hand is away from your phone or your wallet, you can only pray no one is around to take that chance.
When I left Amsterdam four days after the theft, the ticket machine on Leidseplein is still broken, making it a must for tourists to buy tickets on tram and easier for thieves to reach their pocket. There were police cars less than 10 metres away from the stop, an Apple store 20 metres away.
‘How often do you hear people saying their phone got stolen so they need a new one?’ I asked the Apple store assistant.
‘At least once a week.’ He replied.
It takes a whole city to make your trip a great one, it only takes one person to ruin it.
We met that someone.
We got off two stops later and reported it to the police. While we were filling our registration form, an Irish family walked in. The lady on the same tram lost her phone as well. We had a bit of chat, the lady was way more frustrated than I was because she hadn’t backed up her photos for years, and all the memories were gone.
While we were chatting, a group of girls came in, one girl’s phone got taken away out of her bag. The story got funnier when the police offered me the signed form. A gentleman walked in as well, without saying a word but a simple eye contact and a nod, we knew we were welcoming a new member to our club. It was a 30 mins stay in the police station, four groups of people made the station quite crowded. You know you are not getting your phone back when you see this, because though you can give exactly the time when your phone is taken, you can suggest them to go through the CCTV on the tram right above ticket window, they still won’t have time to do anything but fill out form after form for you.
When you google ‘Amsterdam’, ‘phone’ and ‘stolen’, someone asked the same question about what to do after their phone got stolen when they boarded the tram from Leidseplein to the train station on Tripadvisor nine years ago. Nine years are enough for a teenager to finish their high school and even university to start a new job, it is also long enough for you to move to a new country and start a new life.
It is interesting to imagine that the same person who finished their high school and came to Amsterdam for a happy celebration. Their phone got stolen, everything including their graduation photos were gone. They carried on with their life and finally made peace with Amsterdam after nine years. They finished their university, started their new job, met the one they wanted to spend the rest of their life with, and when they finally decided to go on their honeymoon, Amsterdam was on the list. They told their partner about their lost phone as a funny story when they arrived in Leidseplein again, and after they boarded the tram, when they put their hand in the pocket, the nightmare came back again. Nine years of memory was gone, as if they travelled by in time.
The story is unlikely to happen since no one uses the same phone for nine years anymore, but ‘every five minutes, there is a phone stolen in Amsterdam’ said the police and I quoted, there is no guarantee that nothing similar would have happened to someone who saved half a year for this trip and another half a year for a new phone.
I have recently finished the last episode of Season 5 of ‘How to get away with murder ‘, Annalise gave a tear dropping speech about why some people deserve a second chance, especially when they were systematically abused and oppressed, which I can’t agree more. I have seen examples of people who managed to change lives around entirely and none of these would’ve happened if they weren’t given that second chance. However, as much as news like to focus on the criminals, very few about the victims were covered in most repots, where they were from, what their lives were like, how they were affected by the crime, all these were much less eye catching, therefore neglected.
People are way too obsessed to find a perfect victim nowadays, otherwise it is going to be your fault that theft happens to you. ‘You should be more careful’ is what most people hear when they tell such stories, however, if you are not planning to make your trip all about holding your phone and wallet tight in hands and ignore the views around you, you can’t be always careful. When more than ten people gather around that small ticket window pushing you here and there, meanwhile you need to find a handle, so you won’t fall to the ground when the tram started to wobble away, there will be a chance your hand is away from your phone or your wallet, you can only pray no one is around to take that chance.
When I left Amsterdam four days after the theft, the ticket machine on Leidseplein is still broken, making it a must for tourists to buy tickets on tram and easier for thieves to reach their pocket. There were police cars less than 10 metres away from the stop, an Apple store 20 metres away.
‘How often do you hear people saying their phone got stolen so they need a new one?’ I asked the Apple store assistant.
‘At least once a week.’ He replied.
It takes a whole city to make your trip a great one, it only takes one person to ruin it.
We met that someone.
Written April 7, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
david n
Manchester, UK4,758 contributions
Mar 2023 • Solo
Part of the square is, at the moment, being refurbished so hoardings are in place on one side. The other side with restaurants is filled with their seating. Nothing to see really except the grand theatre off a few metres away.
Written March 30, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
david n
Manchester, UK4,758 contributions
Dec 2022
the majority of this 3 (?) sided-square is tacky bars (e.g. Bulldog) and it has a major tram route running through it. Don't make make an effort to visit.
Written December 11, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BabyEvaTravels
Oslo, Norway1,441 contributions
Nov 2022 • Business
Lights up line is a small square but it’s a great point to meet up if you wanna go out for a boy or a coffee shop or restaurant. All the little side streets are filled with small shops coffee shops and restaurants and bars.
And if you want to do shopping you can start at Leidsplein walk down Leidsstrat and you come straight into Kalberstat which is one of the main shopping street
And if you want to do shopping you can start at Leidsplein walk down Leidsstrat and you come straight into Kalberstat which is one of the main shopping street
Written November 6, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
shadabali1981
Aurangabad District, India4 contributions
Oct 2021
Leiden Square is a stop on many walking tours of the city, as well as on hop-on hop-off bus sightseeing tours and hop-on hop-off boat tours. For a taste of the area’s famed nightlife, you can join an Amsterdam pub crawl that takes you through the area or, for a deeper cultural experience, take a tour that is focused on Amsterdam’s history.
Written September 29, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
david n
Manchester, UK4,758 contributions
Jul 2022
Its a pedestrianised area - except for the trams rumbling through the middle - with youth-attracting pubs to one side and an area of outside seating to the other. Nice enough if you want to drink with other tourists.
Written August 7, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Hi I would like to know some good bars that an english hen party of 17 would be allowed in please? Thanks
sgtshan
Muncie, IN115 contributions
The Hard Rock Amsterdam is right there, has indoor and outdoor seating, and a lot goinh on outside in the stereet
Wot tram number is it from central station please?
Omar
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia747 contributions
As Mike suggested and I have checked it in google map trams #1, #2 and #5 all take you from central station to Leidseplein.
best coffee shop not the most touristy i want to stay away from bulldog cafe and the likes?
garylomas
Portishead, UK409 contributions
Hi, As you walk into the square from the main road, go to the left side of the square, bottom corner to halfway there is a nice coffee shop that you have to go down 7 steps or so, good juice, coffe, and staff, relaxed atmosphere, sorry but cant recall the name of it, anyway I hope this has been of some help for you...
How much is a taxi from the airport to Leidseplein please
Mae-and-Abdulla
Kuwait City, Kuwait449 contributions
The taxi fare is about Euro 50. We usually take one from the taxi stand just outside the ariport...but we've also reserved taxis online. You can see the reviews on TripAdvisor.
Jerry M
Denton, TX18 contributions
Is there a place at the square where I can buy a "combi-ticket " for bus 197 to Schiphol, bus 858 to Keukenhof and return?
biggdaniel
westbrook, ct89 contributions
I don't know about 858 to Keukenhof, but we took the 197 to Schipol on a Friday afternoon. It stops in front of the American Hotel and you pay the driver 5 euros. It takes about 1 hour and lets you off about 100 meters from the hotel buses. Piece of cake.
marielle s
saint louis3 contributions
j aurai aimé avoir des adresses sereines pour y dormir merci marielle
Annie M
Die, France3 contributions
Bonjour
J'aurais aimé savoir si vous disposez d'un parking privé
cordialement
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Claim your listingLeiden Square (Leidseplein) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)
Frequently Asked Questions about Leiden Square (Leidseplein)
- According to Tripadvisor travellers, these are the best ways to experience Leiden Square (Leidseplein):
- Amsterdam Evening Canal Cruise with Live Guide and Onboard Bar (From C$32.94)
- Amsterdam Classic Boat Cruise with Live Guide, Drinks and Cheese (From C$50.95)
- Amsterdam Luxury Boat Canal Cruise w/ Live Guide and Onboard Bar (From C$29.64)
- Luxury Boat Tour in Amsterdam with Bar on board (From C$29.94)
- Private Tour: Amsterdam City Walking Tour and Canal Cruise (From C$235.64)
- Hotels near Leiden Square (Leidseplein):
- (0.19 km) The Weavery Boutique Bed & Breakfast
- (0.10 km) Blue Moon Bed & Breakfast Amsterdam
- (0.14 km) Euphemia Hotel
- (0.19 km) Kien Bed & Breakfast Studio's
- (0.10 km) Art Bed and Breakfast
- Restaurants near Leiden Square (Leidseplein):
- (0.02 km) Café Brecht
- (0.16 km) Mankind
- (0.15 km) De Carrousel Pannenkoeken
- (0.17 km) Back to Black coffee
- (0.21 km) Sizz - Indian Cuisine
- Attractions near Leiden Square (Leidseplein):
- (0.16 km) Tour de BonTon
- (0.21 km) MyEscape.Club
- (0.19 km) Brouwersgracht
- (0.23 km) Heineken Experience
- (0.15 km) Zombie Escape Amsterdam