What is life like in Leiden, Netherlands?

Question

I was considering studying abroad there for a semester and had a few questions:
Will it be a significant problem if I can't speak any Dutch (only English)?
How far is it from Amsterdam?
Does it have "coffee shops" like in Amsterdam?
Are the people friendly?
How hard/expensive/time intensive would it be to take a trip to Berlin on a weekend?
Finally (and most importantly) what football club is a resident of Leiden likely to support/what clubs are in the vicinity?

Any other comments about general life in Leiden would be much appreciated. Thanks so much.

Answer 1

I don't live in Leiden, but I have been there a few times. Speaking no dutch doesn't have to be much of a problem. A lot of people in Leiden are going to university (and thus speak english) and nearly all dutch people speak english on a reasonable level. Off course you will have to learn the basis phrases to get around:-)
Leiden Amsterdam is less than half an hour by train, which is probably the preferable means of transportation.
Yes, it has coffeeshops like Amsterdam, every city has them, only less then Amsterdam. Amsterdam has coffeeshops which a usually only visited by tourists, the rest of Holland has coffeeshops which are visited by locals.
Dutch are great! [Off course I'm biassed, but from all my international friends who visited me, I understood that the Dutch are friendly.]
If you want to go to berlin, that's possible. There are ultrafast trains going from Amsterdam to Berlin, but you probably want to go by plane. Cheap airlines [Air Berlin, Ryanair, etc] can take you there and back for less than 100 euro incl. taxes. It's about 1.5 hours of flying. go on friday evening, return sunday evening / monday morning and it'll be worth the time and money.
Leiden does not have a professional football club, but most people will be fan of Ajax Amsterdam, or Feijenoord Rotterdam.
Other clubs that are in the vicinity are ADO Den Haag, Sparta Rotterdam, Excelsior Rotterdam, FC Utrecht. These are all less than an hour away, if you would travel 1.5 hours, you can find nearly all pro clubs.

Leiden is pretty relaxed, by student-minded, a beautiful old city:
go there and see for yourself!

Answer 2

I havn't been to Leiden but I believe 90% speak English
Isn't that some good numbers?

Answer 3

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Answer 4

you asked too many questions, if you cant speeak dutch you are going to have a problem no coffee shopps in that town friendly but cool,no hard to get to berlin but not cheap once you get there,life in the town of leiden is very borig

Answer 5

Groningen is the best place to study in Holland, hands down. It has a very active cultural life, an even more active nightlife, and it's still peaceful. It's nothing like London though so I don't think if you'll enjoy the peacefulness, but I sure did.

Answer 6

Hi,

I'm Dutch and I fully agree with Thijs.
Give him 10 points!

cheers

Answer 7

The place is cool.