Lodewijkskerk in Leiden

What you see at Lodewijkskerk

Inside, the restrained Gothic hall, tall windows and organ create a calm contrast with the busy streets outside. The church is an active place of worship rather than a conventional attraction, so the best opportunity to see the interior is around a service, concert or announced open period.

The history of Lodewijkskerk

The building originated as part of a medieval religious complex and was given to Leiden's Catholic community in 1807 by King Louis Napoleon, which explains its present name. Its position near the site of the 1807 gunpowder disaster also places it in one of the most historically layered parts of the city.

Visiting Lodewijkskerk: practical tips

Check the church's current programme before making a special journey; access can change around services and private events. Dress respectfully and avoid sightseeing during worship. From Leiden Centraal it is roughly a twelve-minute walk. Combine the church with Van der Werfpark, the Rapenburg, the Hortus botanicus and the Pieterskerk.

Combine with nearby places

• Rapenburg
• Garenmarkt
• Leiden canals
• Monuments
• Historic Leiden
• All famous places
• Walking routes

Things to do nearby

• Young Rembrandt Studio
• Pilgrim Museum
• De Burcht