Leiden is known for its host of impressive cultural buildings, all fascinating and offering a view of the world through time. The Museum de Lakenhal promises exactly that and more, with over 400 years of Dutch art and history sitting in this iconic building. Designed by Arent van 's-Gravesande, the magnificent building dates from 1640. It was originally meant to be a cloth hall (hence the name of the museum), a guildhall of sorts for cloth merchants.

The municipal museum was inaugurated in 1874, becoming a repository for municipal art collections. The museum showcases a stunning collection that includes works of Rembrandt van Rijn and those of key instigators of the De Stijl art movement, like Theo van Doesburg. It even includes those by acclaimed Dutch photographer, Erwin Olaf. All these collections come together to form a memory of the Dutch culture and history. Fear not, art lovers, for the range of artworks included not only paintings and sculptures, but also ceramics, furniture, silver and glass. The museum is ever dynamic and frequently hosts temporary exhibitions.