Fun group activities in Leiden

Are you always the one in your group of friends who has to come up with a fun outing? Or are you in charge of organizing the bachelor/bachelorette party, the company outing, or that one birthday celebration? Then we have some tips for you! You might not immediately think of Leiden when you imagine a spectacular group outing, but trust us: this “key city” is full of surprises. From escaping a medieval tower to brewing your own beer, and from shaking up cocktails to sailing small boats across the Kagerplassen. We’ve rounded up the best group activities in Leiden and the surrounding area for you!

Active and exciting: for true adventurers

Do you like a little excitement? Or do you just want to let off some steam with your group? Then these outings are exactly what you’re looking for.

Escape Room Leiden: Rembrandt’s Secret Studio

Imagine this: you and your group are standing in the Kruithuisje on Jan van Houtkade, the only remaining wall tower of Leiden’s old city wall. According to the story, Rembrandt had a secret studio here. At Escape Room Leiden, you have one hour to unravel his greatest secret and escape from the tower. Expect riddles, secret codes, old keys, and hidden drawers. You can play with 2 to 7 people (ages 15 and up). Is your group larger? Then please contact them.

The Dress Rehearsal at the Pieterskerk

In the historic Pieterskerk, you’ll play an escape room game about women in the Leiden resistance during World War II. You’ll be invited on a secret mission, disguised as an innocent choir rehearsal. Exciting, but without jump scares or actors. The game is for 2 to 5 players and lasts 60 minutes. Larger group? Then split up, and the church will be happy to help arrange a package that includes a guided tour or a drink in the museum café.

Sailing a rowboat through Leiden’s canals

Leiden is at its most beautiful from the water. At Boatnext, you can rent a rowboat and paddle through the canals yourself, past historic facades and under low bridges. No boating experience is necessary—you’ll receive instructions before you set off. The rowboats are located about five minutes from the city center and come in various sizes, including options for larger groups. Prefer to sit back and relax? At Bootjes en Broodjes, you can hop aboard an electric rowboat and combine your cruise with a tasty snack and drink.

City Game: Escape from Leiden with Escape Tours

Want to explore the city while solving puzzles and having fun? With the city game from Escape Tours Leiden, you’ll follow in the footsteps of Goeie Mie, the Leiden poisoner who was unmasked in 1883. The quest begins at the Beestenmarkt, and you’ll play on your own smartphone. You’ll have 2 hours to find Leiden’s secret exit. Great for large groups: form teams of 2 to 4 people and compete for a spot on the Wall of Fame.

Creative: for artistic minds

Not everyone wants to run, solve puzzles, or go boating. Fortunately, Leiden also has plenty to offer for those who’d rather create (and taste) something.

Shaking Cocktails at Café Frank

Want to stand behind the bar together and learn to shake drinks like a real bartender? At Café Frank on Kloksteeg, your group will get a private lesson from a dedicated instructor. Choose the workshop where you’ll learn to make the Espresso Martini or the Pornstar Martini (or both). Want to dive deeper into the world of cocktails? Then Frank’s Deepdive is for you: you’ll sample lesser-known spirits and learn both how to shake and stir. Also fun: a tasting, such as the Leiden Tasting, where you’ll taste Leiden through drinks, complete with accompanying stories. Cheers!

Cooking Together at Kook-planet

Cooking together and then sitting down to eat together: there’s almost nothing more enjoyable. Just outside the city center, in the Santhorst Shopping Center in Leiderdorp, you’ll find Kook-planet, a cooking studio and cooking store all in one. Owner Lucien Houwer was a restaurant chef for many years and loves to share his knowledge. You can join a themed cooking evening or come cook with your own group. Afterward, you’ll of course sit down to enjoy everything you’ve cooked.

Paint & Sip at WonderCat

A glass in one hand, a paintbrush in the other: a night out doesn’t get much more relaxing than this. At WonderCat, a cat-themed art space on Middelstegracht, artist Jana Komaritsa regularly hosts paint & sip evenings, sometimes by candlelight and with her cat Chloe in tow. All materials are provided, and no experience is necessary. And the best part? You get to take your own artwork home with you.

Culinary: for foodies

Leiden has a diverse dining scene that’s perfect for a culinary group outing.

Rice Table at Surakarta

For an evening of lavish dining with a group, a rijsttafel is ideal: everyone gets to sample a little of everything, and the table is overflowing with food. At Surakarta on Noordeinde, it’s all about Central Javanese cuisine. It’s a bit less spicy and slightly sweeter than you might be used to. Do you like it spicy? Then add one of the house-made sambals to taste.

Beer Tasting and Brewing at Pronck Brewery

Attention beer lovers! Since 2017, Pronck Brewery has been brewing in the former switchhouse on the old NUON grounds on Langegracht. During the tour, the brewers will tell you all about the brewing process, and you’ll taste four beers, paired with complementary snacks (and bitterballen, of course). A real enthusiast? Then book the beer-brewing workshop. You’ll spend 4 or 6 hours working among the kettles, and your own beer—with a unique label—will be mailed to your home later. For groups of 10 or more, this is also available as a private workshop.

Drinks at a special spot

Want to keep it simple? Drinks at a beautiful location are always a hit. In the heart of the city, on Pieterskerkplein, you’ll find Café Pieter, the Pieterskerk’s museum café. Perfect for catching up after the escape room! Prefer a place just for yourselves? At Brouwerij Pronck, you can also organize drinks or a party right in the brewery.

Cultural: for the curious minds

Leiden is a historic and cultural city par excellence. Ideal for groups looking for more than just drinks and sports.

Guided city walk with Rondleiding Leiden

A guided tour of Leiden is always a hit, especially with a guide who knows the best stories. Rondleiding Leiden is an official partner of Visit Leiden and offers a wide range of themes. Think of Leiden’s courtyards, Rembrandt, Pilgrim Roots, traces of war, and of course October 3, 1574—the end of the Siege of Leiden. You’ll always have a private guide just for your group. Extra fun for a team outing: the “Kan Nie Waar Zijn!” guided tour quiz, or a combination with a canal cruise, lunch, or high tea. We guarantee you’ll know more about the city afterward than you did before!

Museum De Lakenhal

Museum De Lakenhal is Leiden’s museum of art and history. With a group, you can choose, for example, the “Highlights & Architecture” guided tour, or have a customized program put together. Are you coming with more than 8 people? Be sure to register in advance. Currently on view: the exhibition “Garden of Earthly Delights,” about the 17th century in full bloom. Afterward, a drink at Café Laken is practically a must.

Outdoors: for those who love the great outdoors

Sailing a sloop on the Kagerplassen

Just outside Leiden lie the beautiful Kagerplassen: water, wind, and open space—what more could you want? At Olympia Charters in Warmond, you can rent a sloop for 8, 12, or even 18 people. No boating license is required. From the harbor, you can sail straight out onto the Kagerplassen or head toward Leiden’s canals. For company outings, they’re happy to combine a trip on the water with lunch, a barbecue, or drinks by the water’s edge. Be sure to stop by the picturesque island village of Kaag for lunch or an ice cream at one of the outdoor cafes.

Cycling through the bulb-growing region

Leiden is just a stone’s throw away from the famous tulip-growing region. In the spring, you can cycle here past the blooming tulip fields—a colorful and incredibly photogenic sight. At Rent-a-Bike van Dam in Noordwijkerhout, you can rent bikes or e-bikes for your entire group and receive a free cycling map of the dunes, the beach, and the bulb-growing region. From there, it’s about a half-hour bike ride to Keukenhof. Pack a picnic and make a full day of it!

Whether you’re looking for thrills in an escape room, brewing your own beer, or drifting along the Kagerplassen in a small boat: in Leiden and the surrounding area, you’ll find a memorable outing for every group. Pick your favorite, round up your friends, family, or coworkers, and head out! Looking for even more inspiration for a day in the “Key City”? Then check out our tips for a day trip in Leiden.

Photo credits: OpstapmetLisa and Canva.com