The Mill & Bridge Houseboat

Set right in the heart of Leiden’s historic center, The Mill & Bridge Houseboat offers a truly unique way to experience the city—right on the water, yet tucked into a beautiful, quiet corner. From your living space, you’ll look out onto a scene that feels almost like a painting: a traditional wooden mill, a charming bridge, historic ships passing by, and even the studio of Rembrandt just across the canal. With museums, cafés, and shops all within easy walking distance, it’s the kind of place where you can effortlessly settle into local life.

Inside, the houseboat is spacious, bright, and thoughtfully designed for comfort, with a fully equipped kitchen, a welcoming living area, and two relaxing bedrooms, one of them featuring a king size bed and another one featuring a queen size bed, to return to at the end of the day. Step outside onto your private terrace and you’ll find one of its true highlights—a front-row seat to the gentle rhythm of the canals. Whether enjoying a slow breakfast, a glass of wine at sunset, or simply watching the boats drift by, this is a place that invites you to slow down, unwind, and experience Leiden from a completely different perspective.

Leiden, a picturesque Dutch city of about 114,000, is located on a branch of the Rhine River, some 30 minutes southwest of Amsterdam. Laced with peaceful canals and gabled Dutch houses, Leiden is most famous for its university, which is the oldest and most renowned in the Netherlands. Leiden played an important role in Dutch history and in the development of Dutch painting, so it is no surprise that some of the country’s best museums and galleries are located here. The city has had its share of famous residents: Rembrandt was born here; Jan Steen painted here; and Albert Einstein taught here.

Leiden is a very walkable city and has maintained a small-town atmosphere. Visitors enjoy a variety of ethnic restaurants, cozy cafés, bookshops, an outdoor market held twice a week, shopping in a pedestrian precinct, as well as banks, ATMs and several large supermarkets.

There is much to do and see in Leiden, but remember that all of the Netherlands is just at your doorstep: Amsterdam is only 30 minutes by train, Delft 20 minutes, Utrecht 45 minutes, Brussels and Brugge in Belgium 2.5 to 3 hours.

And in case you wondered…yes, Leiden also has a windmill, which is now a fascinating museum.

"Many of my friends with whom I shared my diary noticed that I really thought it was my best trip to Europe - and the UnTour way is the best way. Lenneke's orientation is so well done that you need only to relax and go in any direction you want each day. I would recommend this UnTour to anyone." - T. Badkins

The owner speaks English and is available during business hours to help with anything that might come up.