Thursday, 9 October 2025

This edition marks a new step. Our first newsletter in English, designed to better serve our international network of assocation professionals, PCO's, and event organisers. We remain comitted to helping you explore Leiden's full potential as a conference city.

From recent scientific breakthroughs to testimonials, city events and updates from our partners, get inspired by what's happening in the City of Science.

Kind regards,

Team Leiden Convention Bureau

News in Leiden

Booking confidence: GIREP 2025 & our local support

In this new testimonial, we spoke with the organisers of GIREP 2025 (International Research Group on Physics Teaching) about their experience using the Leiden Booking Service. With 300+ participants in the Gorleaus building (Physics University building), our booking team ensured a smooth and centralized hotel experience. Interested in how they experienced it?

Read the testimonial here

Introducing: Key Region Leiden

The newly launched Key Region Leiden strengthens collaboration in Life Sciences & Health between Leiden, the Duin- en Bollenstreek and the Space Campus in Noordwijk. This unique triangle connects bioscience and aerospace sectors with local talent, entrepeneurs and global knowledge networks, reinforcing the region as hub for innovation, investment and international conferences.

Learn more about Key Region Leiden

Experience Leiden firsthand: exclusive FAMtrip

02-11-2025

10:00 uur

Leiden

This November, we invite a select group of (inter)-national event professionals to discover Leiden in person. This year's theme is gamification and we'll showcase how it can be used to unlock the city's unique venues, stories and hidden gems in an engaging and playful way. You'll experience our compact, walkable city and see how everything connects.

Are you curious to learn what Leiden can offer for your next event?

Scientific discovery

EU backs Solar-to-X breakthrough with Cyanobacteria

Leiden joins EU Cancer Research Network Initiative

A new EU-funded project called C5 will use genetically engineered cyanobacteria to convert sunlight, CO₂ and water directly into valuable chemicals, especially bio-isoprene. The four-year effort, starting November 2025, aims to move from concept to pilot phase and support the EU Green Deal

Leiden University joins the EU's UNCAN-Connect Project, uniting 53 partners across 19 countries to federate cancer research data. The project enables hospitals to share only analysis results, not raw patient data, protecting privacy while accelerating breakthroughs in diagnosis and treatment.

Read more here

Young researchers win Krijn Rietvelt Innovation Award

Marieke Vinkenoog nd SImon Christian Hansmann received the Krijn Rietveld Memorial Innovation Awards for their groundbreaking research. Vinkenoog developed data-driven models to make blood donation more efficient, while Hansmann discovered how mature colon cancer cells can survive chemotherapy and revert to stem-like cells.

Leiden researchers awarded 18 Veni Grants

Eighteen young researchers at Leiden University have received Veni grants from the Dutch Research Council (NWO), allowing them to develop their projects over the next three years. The awarded project cover diverse fields, ranging from social robotics in elderly care, health and vaccine research, astronomy, to digital humanities and machine learning.

Read more here

Stay informed on science from Leiden

Want to keep up with the latest discoveries, breakthroughs and research updates from Leiden? Explore our City of Science stories and see why more and more medical and scientific associations choose Leiden for their events.

Discover more science from Leiden

Meet the team: our Project Manager

Jimin Jung

As Project Manager at Leiden Convention Bureau, I regularly speak with association leaders exploring their next steps. Whether you're still in the early idea phase or comparing European destinations, we're here to support you; with free advice, practical tools and a deep network of local ambassadors.

If you're planning a future event and want to discover what Leiden could offer your community, don't hesitate to reach out. I'd love to connect.

Schedule a call here

Be the first to receive our new conference brochure

A new edition of our international conference brochure will be released by the end of 2025, featuring inspiring event locations, stories from organisers and the faces behind Leiden's academic and event community.

Would you like a copy when it's released?

What's new in the City of Science?

The Field wint Gaia Green Award 2025 in de categorie MICE-locaties

Leiden Convention Bureau got new interns

The Gaia Green Award 2025 for the most environmentally friendly MICE venue in the Netherlands went to The Field in Leiden. The area stood out for its creative sustainability in waste, water, and energy as well as its local circularity. The Field is therefore a great model for organisations that value the circular economy and local impact.

We’re pleased to welcome Wessel and Liselotte to the Leiden Convention Bureau team. Over the coming months, they will support our events, projects, and marketing activities, gaining hands-on experience in the dynamic world of conference acquisition and destination marketing. We look forward to working together and are excited to see their contributions to promoting Leiden as the City of Science.

Read the full press release here

Find more about our places for interns

Smart lighting, sharp audience at CORPUS

Gold & Stars for Theater Ins Blau

The way we come together is changing. Conferences are no longer purely informative, they have to inspire, connect, and activate. In Leiden, a city where knowledge and culture meet, the demand for conference venues that can respond to these shifting expectations is growing. CORPUS Congress Centre is addressing this with a recent upgrade to the lighting in several of its conference rooms.

Theater Ins Blau achieved two great milestones this year: the Green Key GOLD sustainability label and recognition as a STAR Location 2025 by MeetingReview. From eco-friendly measures such as LED lighting, organic drinks, and inclusive catering, to consistently high guest ratings for hospitality and flexibility, Ins Blau demonstrates that Sustainability and outstanding service truly go hand in hand.

Stadsgehoorzaal Leiden hosts TT Meeting 2026

Pieterskerk offers a unique experience for your delegates

Stadsgehoorzaal Leiden has been selected as conference venue for the 20th edition of the TT Meeting in 2026, organised by the International Society for Transgenic Technologies. The winning bid was composed by Leiden Convention Bureau in cooperation with Peter Hohenstein, head of the Transgenic Facility of Leiden University Medical Center, and Leidse Schouwburg-Stadsgehoorzaal is looking forward to welcoming the hundreds of scientists to their venue Stadsgehoorzaal and to the City of Science!

Starting 30 August, Pieterskerk Leiden introduces an exclusive guided tour of the historic Gravensteen. Ideal as a social activity around conferences or academic events, this ‘crawl-and-sneak-through’ experience unveils the medieval tower, centuries-old cells, and captivating stories. Tickets include a complimentary drink at Café Pieter. Tours run every Saturday at 3:00 pm.