Museum of History & Fine Arts @ Muduem De Lakenhal Leiden

I was wandering aimlessly in the city of Leiden on a rainy and gloomy Saturday afternoon. My heart would yearn to visit the Hortus Botanicus Leiden (the botanical garden) but I somehow ended-up in the Museum de Lakenhal, also known as the Cloth Hall in English.

As the name suggested, the Cloth Hall was once functioned as the textile inspection unit where the famed Leiden textile was inspected. It also served as the meeting point for the Governors and Syndicates of the textile industry back in 16th century. It was officially converted into a municipal museum in year 1874.

Besides the fine architecture and interior, the museum also boast a fine collections of arts and paintings by Leiden's famous artists such as Cornelis Engebrechtsz., Lucas van Leyden and Rembrandt.

At the ground floor of the building, hide this little old Dutch kitchen. I felt like walking into the past when I stepped into the kitchen. The wooden buckets, the tiled sink and wall, metal pots and piles, the working fire place and the wooden furniture transformed me back to a typical 17th century kitchen.
In the middle of the hall, lays this long table which was once used to measure and check the textile.

17th century wall paintings, furniture and fire stoves are well maintained and preserved till present days.

The fireplace with Delft blue tiles is the signature of typical Dutch interiors back in 17th and 18th century.

The wall painting of the famous Dutch Windmill in one of the room.


The wooden staircase, color tinted glass and golden chandelier are another highlight of the museum.

Museum De Lakenhal
Oude Singel 28-32, 2312 RA Leiden
Tel: 071-5165360

Operating hours
Tue - Fri                    10:00 to 17:00
Sat, Sun & Holidays 12:00 to 17:00

Entrance fee
Adults €7.5
Children below 18 free