Location, travel & accommodations
The congress venues
Hortus botanicus Leiden
Hidden behind Leiden's historic canals lies the Hortus botanicus, world bursting with colour, mystery, and scientific discovery. Founded in 1590, it is the oldest botanical garden in the Netherlands and one of the oldest in the world. Step through its gates and you will be instantly transported. One moment you are wandering beneath giant tropical palms in the steamy greenhouses, the next you are standing beside ancient medicinal herbs once used by scholars and explorers. The garden is home to thousands of plant species, including the famous Japanese Siebold Memorial Garden and one of the world’s oldest collections of Asian plants.
Adventure seems to grow in every corner. Carnivorous plants wait like tiny predators, orchids explode with impossible colors, and enormous water lilies float peacefully across glassy ponds. In spring, the garden erupts into brilliant blooms, while autumn transforms it into a golden wonderland. The Hortus is more than beautiful — it is deeply connected to science and history. Researchers from Leiden University have studied plants here for centuries, helping unlock secrets about medicine, biodiversity, and the natural world. Even the famous tulip first arrived in the Netherlands through this very garden, forever changing Dutch culture.
Did you know the famous painter Rembrandt van Rijn was born in Leiden? You can follow in his footsteps through a walking tour that highlights locations where he lived, studied, and worked. Leiden is also the birthplace of the Netherlands’ first national museum, the Rijksmuseum van Oudheden, and hosts a number of other world-class institutions such as Museum Boerhaave, which showcases the history of science and medicine (and the first microscopes!). Also the beautiful Hortus botanicus, the oldest Hortus of the country, lying in the middle of the city centre, to which you will have free entrance during the welcome reception, is a must-see. Other museums of interest are the Dutch National Museum of Antiquities, the Japanmuseum Sieboldhuis, and the WereldMuseum (World Museum) Leiden about how people live worldwide..
Leiden: City of Discoveries in the Heart of the Netherlands
Nestled between Amsterdam and The Hague, and in the vicinity of the harbour of Rotterdam and Schiphol airport, lies Leiden, a vibrant Dutch city that might just be one of Europe’s best-kept secrets. In this ‘City of Discoveries’, history, art, science, and charm converge in a way that is uniquely Dutch.
In the 17th-century town centre, with its beautiful canals, picturesque bridges and charming courtyards, you will discover Leiden’s many remarkable stories. These include Molen de Valk, a museum that tells the story of windmill culture in the Netherlands. The brave resistance of the people of Leiden against the Spanish, which is celebrated in the streets every year with free herring and white bread and the very reason that William of Orange gave the city of Leiden its own university, represents another fascinating story.
Founded in 1575, Leiden University is the oldest university in the Netherlands. It has been home to some of history’s greatest minds, including Hermanus Boerhaave and Albert Einstein. Today, it continues to attract students, researchers, and innovators from across the globe.
Travel
How to get there
By Train
Europe is by far the continent with the densest, fastest and most reliable rail network at the continental scale. Continental rail travel in Europe is much faster and easier than most people think, and it reduces our carbon emissions compared to flying.
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The historic university city of Leiden is in the western part of the Netherlands, ideally located between The Hague and Amsterdam, and is perfectly accessible by train. This makes choosing the train even more convenient.
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Direct trains run regularly from cities including:
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Amsterdam (30–40 minutes)
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The Hague (10-20 minutes)
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Rotterdam (35 minutes)
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Utrecht (50 minutes)
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For trains (schedules, costs) check ns.nl
Train companies
Find train companies operating in and close to the Netherlands:
Platforms to plan your train travels across Europe
By Car
Leiden is accessible via the A4 and A44 motorways. The parking garage behind our museum building on Mendelweg is accessible 24/7. The parking garage has several disabled parking spaces and electric charging points. The maximum entrance height is 2.10 meters.
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Parking costs €1.20 per half hour and €25.00 per day. These tickets can only be purchased at the ticket machines in the parking garage. If the P+R Naturalis is full, you can use other parking locations in the municipality of Leiden. Mind that parking in the city center is limited. Rental bikes by Donkey Republic are available in the car park. Terms and conditions apply.
By Air
If you are flying to Schiphol Amsterdam Airport (AMS), the easiest way to travel to Leiden is by train. The airport includes an underground railway station, with frequent services to Leiden via a convenient direct connection (often leaving from platform 5 or 6 at Schiphol train station), either as a final destination, or en route to The Hague/Den Haag, Rotterdam, or Vlissingen. The train journey from the airport to Leiden takes 15-20 minutes. Visit www.ns.nl for more information.
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Check the travelkit on Leiden Convention Bureau for cheaper rates.
Local and regional transport
Because of the city’s small scale, Leiden is very walkable, and most venues are easily accessible on foot or by bicycle. Rental bikes are available throughout the city. Buses and taxis are also available when needed. For travelling (schedules and costs) with bus (and train) check: 9292ov.nl or Google maps.
Traveling to Naturalis
Travelling from Leiden Central Station to the venue takes about a ten-minute walk. The congress will take place at Naturalis Biodiversity Center, Darwinweg 2, 2333 CR Leiden.
Venue
Naturalis has two entrances. Darwinweg 2 (coming by foot from the train station or city center) and Mendelweg 2 (coming by car or bike).
Travelling to Hortus botanicus (registration event on August 29)
The Hortus botanicus Leiden is located in the historical center of Leiden, Rapenburg 73, about 20 min walking from Leiden Central train station. Click here for more practical information.
Traveling to Leiden City Hall (public lecture in Dutch on August 31)
The City Hall’s address is Stadhuisplein 1, between the Breestraat and the Vismarkt. The public lecture will take place here, explaining why wood science remains relevant to provide solutions for our ecological and societal challenges.
Travel
Accommodations
Leiden Convention Bureau
To facilitate your stay during IAWA Leiden 2027, we have secured a selection of hotel rooms in Leiden. The hotels are conveniently located with easy access to the event venues (Naturalis / Hortus / City Hall) and/or Leiden Central Station.
You can explore the available options and book your accommodation directly through the dedicated IAWA 2027 hotel roomkit.
If you prefer to stay in a different hotel or if you require more than 10 rooms, please contact Preferred Hotel Reservations
Campingsites
When you were unable to find a suitable hotel, we offer an overview of nearby campsites where you can book a rental accommodation/chalet at on your own convenience:
Naturalis Biodiversity Center
Naturalis Biodiversity Center in Leiden is the Dutch national research institute for biodiversity and systematics. With one of the world's largest natural collections (43 million specimens) that also includes one of the largest scientific wood collections (125.000 specimens), and our state-of-the-art lab facilities, we focus on upscaling and accelerating species identification.
We closely collaborate with many Dutch universities, research institutes, industry, and government. We host over 130 researchers including 14 university professors and 40 PhD students. We present the history of our planet, and the diversity of life on Earth, through our permanent and temporary museum exhibitions, educational programmes, and online presence. We weldome more than 500,000 visitors each year. All in all, a unique combination of science and culture in the Netherlands and around the world!
