A Historical Excursion from Leiden
For a fun and educational excursion for the whole family, visit the unusual and fascinating archaeological theme park Archeon, Archeonlaan 1 (tel. 0172/447-744; www.archeon.nl), 12km (7 1/2 miles) east of Leiden, outside Alphen aan den Rijn. It zips you through the history of the earth and humankind in a few hours. Your journey through time starts in the Expo building, where the story of the planet from its creation to the arrival of the human race is outlined.
In the park itself you follow the trail of human development and join people in their everyday activities through the ages. You visit a Stone Age settlement populated by hunter-gatherers, and walk through a Roman village on your way to the amphitheater to watch a contest between gladiators. The last stop is a medieval town, where you watch artisans at work and are taken to the marketplace by a group of beggars and musicians to watch a farce unfold.
The park is open April to October daily from 10am to 5pm. Admission is 17€ ($27) for adults, 16€ ($26) for seniors, 15€ ($24) for children ages 4 to 11, and free for children 3 and under. Take the train to Alphen aan den Rijn, then bus no. 197. By car take N11 from Leiden towards Bodegraven.
