Universiteit Leiden

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Sport & Culture

Fancy burning off some calories after a day’s studying? Or perhaps you’d prefer to spend your evenings on the stage? Either way, the good news is that Leiden also has a lot to offer in the areas of sport and culture.

Sport in Leiden

Modern sports centre
If you’re looking to work up a sweat, the University Sports Centre (USC) is the place to be. You can participate in individual recreational sports, or competitive sports that you can do with your fellow students. This sports complex caters for more than 60 sports and offers a range of group lessons, so whatever your sport is you’ll find it here. Take out a subscription and you’ll get a great deal too!

Top-level sport
Do you play your sport at an international level? And would you like to combine it with your study? At Leiden University we can give you personal guidance to develop your sporting talents. We have a sports counsellor for our top-level sportsmen and women and we also offer them additional studying facilities.

Student sports associations
In Leiden you’ll find a sports club for practically every sport you could think of. With Thor for hockey, Njord or Asopos de Vliet for rowing and LSVV for football, you’ll be spoiled for choice. These clubs also organise parties, sports weekends, social drinks and many other fun activities.  

Alpinism: De Leidsche Studenten Alpenclub (L.S.A.C.)
The Leiden Student Alpinism Club (LSAC) has been active in the Alps, Ardennes and climbing walls of the Netherlands for nearly 100 years. The club focuses on climbing and bouldering, glacier tours and Alpine ascents. L.S.A.C. is a sub-association of Minerva, but open to all.

Badminton: B.S.C. Leiden
At this small student badminton association you can play competitively or join training and free-play sessions. Players of all levels are welcome to come by for a trial session. 

Basketball: L.U.S.V. Basketball
LUSV Basketball is a student-run sports association for both beginners and experienced players. As well as training sessions and games, LUSV organises (team) drinks and other social activities.

Dance: S.D.A. Leidance
This student dance association focuses on partner dancing (ballroom, salsa, kizomba, bachata and more). Its members form a diverse, international group. As well as dance classes, Leidance organises social dance evenings, parties, workshops, movie nights and many other activities.

Diving: Leidse Studenten Duikvereniging (L.S.D.)
At the Leiden Student Diving Association you can (learn to) dive in an affordable way. The association also organises various social activities such as diving weekends, trips, drinks and dinners.

Hockey: L.S.H. Thor
Thor is the only independent student hockey club in Leiden. The club offers training sessions and KNHB competitions, as well as corporate, indoor and spring hockey. Members also meet up throughout the year for get-togethers, parties, tournaments and other activities.

Canoeing: A.L.S.K.V. Levitas
At Levitas you can do many types of canoeing, from quiet trips to canoe polo or sea canoeing. Levitas also organises social activities such as movie nights, table football tournaments, climbing and survival trips, and nights out.

Football:

  • L.V.V. Football Factory
    Leiden's biggest student football association has something for everyone: students who just want to train and students who also want to play matches. Some members come primarily for fun and friendships, whilst others are looking for a more serious challenge.
  • LSVV ’70
    This Leiden Student Football Association is open to students and alumni. The club has both an outdoor branch and indoor branch. For more than 50 years, LSVV'70 has been a club on the move, where social activities and great football go hand in hand. You can play at all levels and the social aspect paramount.

Lacrosse: L.L.V. Leicrosse
This lacrosse association offers social activities such as game nights, dinners and team weekends in addition to training sessions and competitions.

Rowing:

  • A.L.S.R.V. Asopos De Vliet
    With more than 800 members, Asopos is one of the largest associations in Leiden. At Asopos you can learn to row at all level as well as joining in the active association life.
  • K.S.R.V. Njord
    The oldest student rowing association in the Netherlands and one of the largest associations in Leiden. Njord is affiliated with Minerva but open to everyone. As well as rowing, members also meet up regularly for drinks.

Rugby: Leidsch Studenten Rugby Gezelschap (L.R.S.G.)
L.R.S.G. is always on the lookout for new players. Experience isn’t necessary. As well as offering sport, LRSG is also a social society in which players form close friendships and see each other regularly off the pitch.

Running: L.U.H.V. Currimus
At Leiden University running club Currimus, you can get together with students and alumni of the university and other local higher education institutions for weekly training sessions and other fun activities, such as dinners, parties and running weekends.

Surfing: S.W.V. Plankenkoorts
The aim of this windsurfing association is to provide access to wind and wave surfing as affordably as possible. To facilitate this, Plankenkoorts has three buses, a storage shed and a windsurfing centre at its disposal.

Tennis: S.T.V. Qravel
One of the largest student tennis associations in Leiden, here you can train and compete at any level. Qravel organises many sport and social activities, including a members' weekend, ski trips and parties.

Ultimate Frisbee: Panic
Panic is an active community made up of different teams (open, women's and mixed). Here you can develop your skills as a player and as a team, and join in social activities such as get-togethers, dinners and parties.

Volleyball: SKC Studentenvolleybal
At SKC you can train and play matches at all levels. The association has various active committees that organise a host of sports and social activities, such as a beach competitions, tournaments, barbecues, clinics and parties.

Water polo & swimming: E.L.S.Z.W.V. Aquamania
At this student swimming and water polo association you can train at all levels and take part in both swimming and water polo competitions. Aquamania also organises social activities such as bowling, dinners, drinks and parties.

Sailing: A.L.S.Z.V. De Blauwe Schuit
This student sailing association offers recreational and competitive sailing at all levels. On top of that, De Blauwe Schuit organises social activities such as drinks, parties and sailing camps.

Alessia Zanon: ‘I signed up for the student volleyball association SKC. Volleyball is something I have been doing since my tenth year. It was nice to be able to play in a student team. Currently I am part of the committee that organises an introduction weekend to help the new members get to know each other. At the big tournament at the end of the weekend all the other members come as well, so everyone will get to know each other.
Alessia Zanon: ‘I signed up for the student volleyball association SKC. Volleyball is something I have been doing since my tenth year. It was nice to be able to play in a student team. Currently I am part of the committee that organises an introduction weekend to help the new members get to know each other. At the big tournament at the end of the weekend all the other members come as well, so everyone will get to know each other.'

Cultural Leiden

Cultural associations
As you’d expect, Leiden also boasts several student associations in the area of culture. Many students and student associations run their own drama groups, for example. But you can also join an independent student drama group called Cuculum. Prefer to sing in a student choir or play in a student orchestra? No problem, there are student music associations such as Collegium Musicum and Sempre Crescendo. And if invigorating discussions about culture are more your thing, then the cultural student association A.S.V. Prometheus will definitely hit the spot for you.

Leiden museum city
If you’d like to sample the cultural life outside student associations, Leiden can offer no fewer than 13 fantastic museums. From marvelling at Rembrandt's masterpieces in De Lakenhal to making an exploration of the human body in CORPUS, you’ll find a surprising offering of nature, art and culture. Or perhaps you’d prefer to take in a film, or an evening of cabaret? Boasting several cinemas and theatres, Leiden’s lively cultural calendar means there will rarely be a dull moment.

Cultural events
Leiden also has more than its fair share of cultural events. Don’t just take our word for it; find out for yourself by visiting for example the Museumnight. Thirteen museums will open their doors, giving visitors the unique opportunity to experience these locations in a different light. Or, like thousands of others, you can enjoy its Night of Discoveries, an art and science festival with over 100 acts that include artists, actors, dancers, musicians and scientists. But however much the city has to offer culturally, as a student you’ll definitely want to see the great performances given in student rooms as part of the “Stukafest”. So what are you waiting for? Get your diary!

Leiden Academic Art Centre
In addition to all the cultural opportunities open to you and covered by various associations, the Leiden Academic Art Centre (LAK) offers several creative courses. LAK, which is part of Leiden University, offers courses in the following categories:

  • Drama and presentation
  • Dancing
  • Fine arts
  • Music
  • Photography
  • Writing