M.C. Escher was born in 1898 in the building that now houses the Princessehof. The National Ceramics Museum at the Princessehof displays rare imperial porcelain from China, Art Nouveau ceramics and Delftware. The Oldehove adds a different architectural feature: the tower is over 39 metres high and reaches 48 metres with its upper structure. The combination of Escher’s birthplace, the ceramics collection and this distinctive building offers a practical introduction to Leeuwarden.
History in buildings, documents and a park
The Blokhuispoort is a former prison in Leeuwarden, built in 1593. The Historic Centre Leeuwarden offers a different way to explore the past, making historical documents from the Middle Ages to the present day accessible. This span of time broadens the view from one specific construction date to records from many centuries.
The Prinsentuin also has its own history. Prince Frederik of Nassau laid out the park in honour of the Eighty Years’ War. At the same time, it offers residents and visitors a peaceful green oasis in the heart of Leeuwarden. The building, documents and park thus represent different ways of engaging with history.
Museums with different focuses
The Natuurmuseum Fryslân is an interactive museum spread over four floors. Visitors can discover animals and plants there and take part in activities, experiments and games. Its programme combines nature topics with hands-on activities. The Fries Museum, in turn, offers exhibitions, workshops and insights into the work of artists in residence. Together with the ceramics at the Princessehof, these provide a range of focuses: nature, ceramics, exhibitions and artistic work. This can help you choose how to plan your time around particular interests.
Canals, a walking tour and views
Stichting Praamvaren Leeuwarden runs tourist and group cruises on electrically powered prams through the city’s canals and singels. A skipper and a guide are on board for every trip. This is a different format from a walking tour of Leeuwarden, which is about 1.5 kilometres long: the cruise follows the water, while the walking tour explores the city on foot.
A possible climb up the Oldehove involves 183 steps and offers views of Leeuwarden and the surrounding area. Check in advance whether the tower is open for climbing on your travel dates. This allows you to plan the viewpoint as a separate activity rather than assume it is always accessible.
The Leeuwarden Visitor Center is at the foot of the Oldehove, at Heer Ivostraatje 1. It provides up-to-date tourist information and tailored tips on places, events and activities in the city and region. If you would like to consider events or other activities as well as sights, the centre is a point of contact for these topics.
Cycling routes and views in the surrounding area
The area around Leeuwarden offers wide-open views, quiet roads and high-quality cycling routes. Alongside museums, historic sites and waterways, the landscape is another focus to choose from. When planning, you can decide whether to devote more time to culture and exploring the city or to a bike ride in the surrounding area. The different themes can help guide your travel decisions without requiring you to follow a set itinerary.
Discover more destinations: Snakkerburen, Goutum, Wirdum.
Back to the main travel overview: Leeuwarden.
