Leidseplein (English: Leiden Square) is a square in central
Amsterdam, Netherlands. It lies in the
Weteringschans neighborhood (
Centrum borough), immediately northeast of the
Singelgracht. It is located on the crossroads of the
Weteringschans,
Marnixstraat and
Leidsestraat
Leidseplein (English: Leiden Square) is a square in central Amsterdam, Netherlands. It lies in the Weteringschans neighborhood ( Centrum borough), immediately northeast of the Singelgracht. It is located on the crossroads of the Weteringschans, Ma ...
.
Leiden Square
Leidseplein is one of the busiest centres for nightlife in the city. Historically, the square was the end of the road from
Leiden; it served as a
parking lot
A parking lot (American English) or car park (British English), also known as a car lot, is a cleared area intended for parking vehicles. The term usually refers to an area dedicated only for parking, with a durable or semi-durable surface ...
for horse-drawn traffic. Today, modern traffic travels through the square and side streets are packed with restaurants and nightclubs. The
Stadsschouwburg
The Stadsschouwburg (; Dutch: ''Municipal Theatre'') of Amsterdam is the name of a theatre building at the Leidseplein in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The building is in the neo-Renaissance style dating back to 1894, and is the former home of the Na ...
, a national-renowned theatre, is the most notable architectural landmark on the square; the
American Hotel is close by.
2022 hostage crisis
On February 22, 2022, a 27 year old man took at least one person hostage inside of an
Apple Store in Leidse Square. After a forced breach of the store by
Dutch Police, all hostages were safely rescued. However, as a result of the breach, the hostage taker was killed.
It is approximately 150 meters from where well known crime reporter
Peter R. de Vries
Peter Rudolf de Vries (14 November 1956 – 15 July 2021) was a Dutch investigative journalist and crime reporter. His television program (''Crime Reporter''; 1995−2012) covered high-profile cases and set a Dutch television viewing record. F ...
, a key figure in the
Marengo trial, was
murdered
Murder is the unlawful killing of another human without justification or valid excuse, especially the unlawful killing of another human with malice aforethought. ("The killing of another person without justification or excuse, especially the c ...
.
Panorama
See also
*
List of tourist attractions in Amsterdam
Amsterdam, one of Europe's capitals, has many attractions for visitors. The city's most famous sight is the 17th-century canals of Amsterdam (in nl, grachtengordel), located in the heart of Amsterdam, have been added to the UNESCO World Heritag ...
References
{{Parks and squares in Amsterdam
Squares in Amsterdam