Overview
Leeuwarden is the capital of Friesland province in the north of the Netherlands, often overlooked by visitors despite being just a 90-minute drive from Amsterdam via the Afsluitdijk. The city was honoured as a European Capital of Culture in 2018 alongside Valletta, giving it a refreshed cultural infrastructure.
Architecture · Day Trips · Family Travel · History · Museums
Before you go
Connectivity
5G coverage from all Dutch carriers as of July 2022. WiFi available in most hotels and cafés.
Culture
Leeuwarden was European Capital of Culture in 2018. The city has a proud Frisian identity with its own language and traditions.
Money
The Netherlands uses the Euro (€). Credit and debit cards are widely accepted. ATMs are readily available throughout the city.
Shopping
Thursday evening is "koop-avond" when stores stay open until 21:00. Kleine Kerkstraat has about 30 speciality shops.
Transport
Leeuwarden is 90 minutes from Amsterdam by car via A7. Trains connect from Amsterdam Centraal and Groningen. City centre is walkable; bike rental at VVV station costs around €7.50/day.