Leiden Photography Workshop and Historic Photo Walking Tour

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Pick a date to see start times and book.

What's included

• Bottled water

Itinerary

1. 1

   Pass byPhotograph Leiden’s landmark De Valk windmill from the surrounding public viewpoints. Use its distinctive shape to practise perspective, symmetry, scale and creative use of negative space. This is an exterior photography stop only; the workshop does not enter the windmill museum.

2. 2

   A city gate dating back to the 1600s. We will learn about the catastrophic siege of Leiden and the city's miraculous recovery.

3. 3

   A characteristic early windmill very close by to Rembrandt's place of birth. We will learn about Rembrandt, the impact he had on art, and the tragic life he led.

4. 4

   Walk beside the stately Rapenburg canal and photograph reflections, bridges and historic university buildings. Learn to read changing light, balance architecture with water and use foreground elements to create a stronger sense of place.

5. 5

   Pass byPause outside Leiden University’s historic botanical garden and Academy Building. Use entrances, trees and architectural details to practise framing and visual storytelling while learning how this area shaped Leiden’s identity as a city of knowledge. The workshop does not enter the ticketed gardens.

6. 6

   Pass byExplore the atmospheric Pieterskwartier around Leiden’s oldest parish church, with its brick façades, narrow lanes and layered views. Practise changing your viewpoint, isolating architectural details and creating depth in a travel photograph. Entry to the church is not included.

7. 7

   Pass byFinish around the Visbrug and Leiden City Hall, where canals, boats, street life and the Renaissance façade come together. Apply the workshop’s lessons to one final hero image, combining light, layers, timing and a clear focal point.

8. 8

   At Leiden’s historic covered grain bridge, watch for boats, cyclists and everyday life around the Nieuwe Rijn. Practise anticipation and timing—the decisive moment—while composing with the bridge, water, reflections and surrounding façades.

9. 9

   Leiden’s oldest hill, where the circular medieval wall and elevated viewpoints provide a first exercise in framing and perspective. Walk up to the freely accessible wall circuit, photograph the brick arches and city skyline, and learn how to simplify a busy scene into a clear composition.

10. 10

    Pass byPhotograph the monumental Gothic exterior of the Hooglandse Kerk and the intimate streets surrounding Hooglandse Kerkgracht. Use the contrast between imposing architecture and small street details to practise scale, leading lines and natural framing. Entry to the church is not part of the workshop.

Good to know

• · Wheelchair accessible
• · Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• · Service animals allowed
• · Public transportation options are available nearby
• · Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
• · Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Where it starts

Map shows the general area. You'll get the exact meeting point and directions with your confirmation.