Leiden is a city of knowledge

In the past, Leiden was known for its textile industry. Later, other industries set up operations in the city, too, such as metal, printing and canning. From its origins as an industrial city to its 21st century incarnation as a leading centre of the Netherlands knowledge economy, today Leiden’s highest concentrations of jobs are found in biotechnology, education, business services, research and the arts. With its universities (Leiden University and Webster University), college, other educational institutes and a knowledge centre, Leiden is a city of consequence regionally and nationally as well as internationally.