International recognition for Leiden’s Singelpark
Singelpark in Leiden has won a World Urban Parks Award 2026 in the Large Urban Parks category for the European region. This international recognition highlights what makes Leiden so appealing to conference attendees: a city where green spaces, history and urban life are closely intertwined and can form part of the conference experience
The park has been honoured in the ‘Large Urban Parks’ category for the European region. With this international accolade, the Singelpark is recognised as an inspiring example of a large urban park where green spaces, quality of life and community engagement come together.
International recognition for Leiden collaboration
The municipality of Leiden and the Friends of Singelpark Foundation jointly nominated the park for the international award. Statements of support from residents, organisations and businesses were also included. The personal stories illustrate the significance the park has come to hold for Leiden and its residents.
The World Urban Parks Award is therefore not only a recognition of the design and development of the Singelpark, but also of the collaboration that underpins it. It provides an international platform for a park that demonstrates how urban development, green spaces and community involvement can go hand in hand.
What makes the Singelpark special
Green city parks and so-called linear parks can also be found in other international cities. What sets Leiden apart is the combination.
The Singelpark follows the historic canals around the old town centre. Along a single route, different aspects of Leiden come together: greenery and water, but also city gates, windmills, monuments, culture and places linked to the city’s scientific history.
At the same time, the park was not developed solely from the top down. The local council, residents, volunteers, community organisations and other partners have been working together for many years on its development and management. Hundreds of volunteers still contribute to the park’s green spaces and activities.
In this way, the Singelpark also says something about Leiden itself: a city where cooperation, knowledge, quality of life and engagement with the local environment are closely intertwined.
A green congres destination right in the heart of the city
An international conference is no longer just about the venue and the programme content. The surroundings also play a key role in shaping how participants experience an event. Where can they step outside for a moment between sessions? Where do informal conversations take place? And does a destination offer sufficient opportunities to combine knowledge-sharing with relaxation and physical activity?
In Leiden, such surroundings can be found right on the doorstep of the historic city centre. The Singelpark forms a green ring along the old canals and connects parks, water, monuments, culture and history.
Why is this relevant to a conference?
For organisers, a green city offers more than just an attractive view. It provides opportunities to extend the programme beyond the conference hall.
Think, for example, of a stroll between two programme items, a guided city walk or an informal networking session in a green setting. Stepping outside for a moment also gives participants a chance to recharge after an intensive day at the conference.
The Singelpark makes this particularly easy. The route runs around the city centre and is therefore not a separate attraction for which participants first have to travel out of the city. Green spaces, historic buildings, museums, the university, restaurants and bars, and city life are all close together here.
From conference venue to a complete destination
This can make all the difference, particularly for international conference organisers. A destination must not only have suitable conference facilities, but also offer participants an experience they will remember afterwards.
The Singelpark provides space for informal meetings, exercise and relaxation without the need for an extensive additional programme. After the final session, a participant can simply step outside and continue exploring Leiden on foot.
The World Urban Parks Award is therefore more than just a prize for a park. It is international recognition of a quality that visitors can actually experience: a compact city where conferences, knowledge, history and green spaces are all close at hand.
And perhaps that is the most important difference. In Leiden, a conference does not just take place in the city; the city itself can become part of the conference.
The World Urban Parks Awards are presented annually by World Urban Parks, an international organisation dedicated to high-quality and accessible urban parks and public spaces. In the Large Urban Parks category, parks covering more than ten hectares are assessed on criteria including design, management, sustainability, accessibility and community engagement.