Let Leiden flourish, make your next conference greener!

February 23, 2026 | Leiden Convention Bureau

Leiden has long been a popular destination for organizing all kinds of congresses, attracting international players from all over the world. In the ICCA Globe Watch Business Analytics 2024, Leiden ranks fifth in The Netherlands, together with Delft and Maastricht. Various countries and organizations come to our City of Science to share their knowledge. This knowledge is shared not only with the participants, but also with our residents. This can range from local initiatives to public activities that tie in with the themes of the congress. Leiden Convention Bureau is happy to help you bring your creative ideas and initiatives to life and share the experience. Discover what you can do to give back to our city.

Step into sustainability

Leiden is a compact, green city where venues and hotels are within walking distance and locations further afield are easily accessible by electric buses. The green character of the city was perfectly reflected in the 2022 EU Contest for Young Scientists, where participants were able to travel on foot between centrally located hotels and venues. The city also organizes impactful events around sustainability, such as Leiden University and VNG's “Working Together on a Liveable Planet.”

Many businesses in the city have been awarded the Green Key label. This global label indicates that a business is doing its bit to promote a healthy living environment. Whether you are organizing your congress at Hortus Botanicus Leiden or having lunch at Brasserie Polderpark, you can be sure that they are not harming the environment. Several of our congress venues, including Naturalis Biodiversity Center, The Field, and Stadsgehoorzaal Leiden, are actively working on sustainability and using green energy. They each do this in their own way, whether it's by using solar panels to generate energy or by using sustainable materials in their venues.

Taking advantage of the fact that you can get almost anywhere in the city on foot is one way to make your events sustainable and experience-oriented. Want to know how you can help? Visit our sustainability page to see how you can give something back to our city.

Share your knowledge with residents

Every year, our city welcomes many fascinating researchers and initiatives. We have found many ways to share this knowledge with our local citizens. When Leiden was chosen as European City of Science 2022, the link between the congresses and the local community was strengthened during the EuroScience Open Forum (ESOF) in 2022. The public was invited to the Science in the City Festival, with a free program on Pieterskerkplein and other public spaces. There, congress participants and local visitors could learn and discover together. The results, themes, and insights from the congress reached people throughout the city via public events, radio programs, and neighborhood activities.

The knowledge throughout the Neighbourhoods program enabled residents to participate in neighborhood-focused scientific experiences, with more than 10,000 participants. This is an excellent example of how congress knowledge is translated into formats that are accessible to the public outside the traditional congress environment. You can have a real impact by sharing your knowledge with different generations, for example by setting up small workshops or making lectures on specific topics available to the public. We are always looking for ways to share your knowledge and initiatives with a wider audience.

Heritage meets innovation

In Leiden, history and innovation come together everywhere: from the 16th-century university to modern laboratories and museums. Let your congress participants discover ancient libraries and monumental buildings while attending workshops and interactive experiences that connect ancient traditions with groundbreaking science. This makes every meeting a unique blend of culture, knowledge, and inspiration. Combine your congress with a city tour or museum workshop for a lasting impression. One of our venues, CORPUS Congress Centre, is a perfect example of how both can be combined.

At CORPUS Congress Centre, it is possible to rent not only the entire congress center, but also “the journey through the human body” and the accompanying interactive spaces. In addition, during a walking dinner, participants can enjoy a dish on each floor that is related to the part of the human body they are currently visiting. This is not only fun for your participants, but also supports local museums and Leiden's rich cultural offerings. Each conference topic has a suitable location where your delegation can learn more about a relevant or new topic in a fun way.

Work together with our local partners

We can arrange for local caterers to provide food for your event. Making your congress sustainable can be as simple as choosing vegetarian or vegan options; not only will you be supporting local caterers, but you will also be having a positive impact on the planet. Most food options are also prepared with local products, supporting not only the catering company but the entire region. A perfect example of this is our caterer, House of Lords, which has a strong sustainability program. They have catered for various conferences and are committed to finding sustainable options that meet your requirements. This is an easy way to make your own congress a little better for the planet.

Discover how Leiden Convention Bureau can help you plan your next conference or event!