Leiden Courtyard Festival on May 24 and 25, 2026

Discover the enchanting world behind the walls of Leiden's courtyards, where intimate gardens and hidden spots await exploration. During the Leiden Courtyard Festival, Leiden's most beautiful courtyards open their doors for two days filled with top-level concerts. Be surprised by a range of unique musical discoveries amidst these hidden gems. The many courtyards that Leiden boasts always serve as an atmospheric and surprising open-air stage for a wide variety of concerts. For all these years, the organization has dedicated itself wholeheartedly to making Leiden the place where history, music, and culture come together every year. The upcoming edition of the Leiden Courtyard Festival takes place on May 24 and 25, 2026. Both days from 13:00 PM to 18:00 PM. Will we see you there?

Leiden courtyards

The almshouses in Leiden are an example of social care in the Middle Ages. They are small houses standing close together around a common courtyard, established by private individuals through their wills and intended for poor, elderly people. The remaining almshouses in Leiden are almost all located in the city center.

Courtyards were built on small plots of land that remained between the blocks of houses in the densely built city. Consequently, they are built compactly and, initially, not symmetrically in a square or rectangle around a communal garden. This only occurred from the 17th century onwards. The oldest courtyards vary greatly: a single or double row of small houses along a garden, or in a right-angled or U-shaped arrangement. 

Due to their location within a block of houses, the cottages are usually completely closed at the rear, with windows only on the side facing the communal garden. A pump for the water supply was always located there. There were also one or two communal toilets (also called privies or outhouses), that is to say, cubicles with a barrel for excrement, which had to be emptied regularly. The cottages themselves were small and simple. Only during the much later renovations were they equipped with private sanitary facilities and sometimes combined or provided with an extra floor to gain space.

The oldest almshouses in Leiden date from before the Reformation (in 1572, the city sided with the anti-Spanish rebellion and officially became a Reformed city). The number of small houses was – certainly in the oldest almshouses – at least twelve. This was related to the twelve apostles. For the sake of Jesus and Mary, a thirteenth and fourteenth house could therefore be added. The (Catholic) founders gave 'their' almshouse the name of a saint or a Biblical place. A chapel was usually added to these almshouses, which have now almost all disappeared. The later almshouses were often named after the founders. And the more significant, that is to say the wealthier the founder or the regents, the more beautiful the gateway to the almshouse became. A representative, richly decorated regents' room could also be added to it.

 

Leiden Courtyard Concert venues

The city center of Leiden boasts a total of 35 courtyards. Courtyards have a historical past, where the people who lived (and still live) there shield themselves from the busy city traffic. The Leiden Courtyard Concerts are taking place in over 25 of these courtyards this year. In addition, there are extra performances at a number of indoor venues as well as several (free-to-access) outdoor locations. Below is a selection of the courtyards and special locations with the corresponding stamps.

The program Bethlehemshof It was founded in 1630 by the Leiden merchant Gerrit Frankens van Hoogmade, who also chose the name of the almshouse. In 1701, the Mennonites of this almshouse joined the De Houcksteen almshouse located on the Levendaal, but the administration remained separate. In 1811, for financial reasons, the two almshouses were merged under the name Bethlehem. In 1897, the section on the Levendaal was provided with a contemporary facade with an upper floor, and the almshouse was fully restored in 1978.

The program Brouchovenshof It is an initiative of Anna van Brouchoven. She asked her brother Jacob to allow poor elderly people to live in a few small houses free of charge. Jacob respected his sister's wish and founded an almshouse. Construction began around 1640. The almshouse consisted of twelve new houses plus two houses that Anna van Brouchoven had bequeathed. At the time, the houses were one storey high; a second storey was not added until the end of the 18th century. The gatehouse still displays the initials of Anna and Jacob van Brouchoven.

 

In the Middle Ages, the following stood on the site of Meermansburg Court a monastery. This was replaced in 1596 by a complex of 63 small back-to-back workers' houses. By 1680, these had become so dilapidated that Maerten Meerman had the houses demolished to build a courtyard. This courtyard features a beautiful regent's room, and in the inner courtyard you can see the water pump crowned by a castle topped with a merman. This is a reference to the founders, Helena Verburg and Maerten Meerman. The courtyard underwent extensive restoration in 1977–1979.

The program Pieter Loridanshofje It was built in the backyard of the former inn De Vergulde Wagen. During the Eighty Years' War, Pierre Loridan fled the Southern Netherlands from the Spanish Inquisition. During a major plague epidemic in 1655, he lost family and fellow believers and decided, as a good deed, to found an almshouse. Shortly after making his will, he too fell victim to the plague. His executors purchased the aforementioned inn, where the almshouse was built in 1656.

Jean Pesijn He was a refugee from Northern France. After their only daughter died during a plague epidemic in 1655, he and his wife, Marie de Lannoy, decided to found an almshouse. After Jean's death, Marie bought several small houses in the English Gate on the Kloksteeg. The gate was so named because it was built shortly after 1611 by several members of the group of Englishmen around Reverend John Robinson. This group would later become known as the Pilgrims, the founders of one of the oldest and most important colonies in America.

 

Special locations

The Castle of Leiden is one of the oldest surviving examples of a castle in the Netherlands. The castle stands on a motte, an artificial hill, and was part of a so-called motte castle. On top of the hill stood a circular wall and a tower, which has since disappeared. As early as the fourteenth century, the castle lost its military function. This beautiful spot is one of the most famous locations in Leiden. After climbing the many steps, a magnificent view over the city awaits.

 

 

The largest square space of the Pieterskerkhof, the Pieterskerkplein, is located on the west side of the church. This is the side where the tower once stood. The Gravensteen, the former city prison, is also situated on this square, while the courthouse is located on the other side at the Gerecht. Until space was made available on the ramparts, the Pieterskerkhof was used as a cemetery. The graves here were cleared in the mid-17th century. Below is the Pieterskerk seal with the old (2012) and new logo (2014).

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Thanks to the information from the Leidse Hofjes Concerten website, where you can enjoy the concerts for €27,50 per person per day. Two days cost €49,50 per person. There are different rates for students and children. Thanks also to Frans Hemelop for the use of his 'Leidsche zegels' designs. You can still order a number of these beautiful Leiden stamps on his site.

The content of this blog was previously published in 2022 and supplemented with new information.

 

<strong> More info: </strong>

Leiden Courtyard Concerts: https://leidsehofjesconcerten.nl/

Frans Hemelop Leiden stamps: https://hemelop.nl/