Tuin van de Smid in Roodenburgerdistrict

Dear people of De Tuin van de Smid, what a fantastic day we had with you! We got married at your place on Tuesday, May 16th, and it was hot! Very hot! It was also lovely that the ceremony could take place under the tent, and that we could set up a small pool for the little ones to cool off in. Everything was thought of and everyone was so well taken care of. No one went without anything; even for those with dietary requirements and those who didn't quite like the menu, a solution was found. Thank you for the excellent care, and we will drop by again soon for a cup of coffee or a lovely lunch!

You have to walk a very long way if you come by car. Impossible if you have difficulty walking. 15-minute walk.

Overall, the food was delicious; the cuisine was great. If you are sitting on the terrace next to the restaurant, you need to make sure to order via the QR code. It is indicated, but I overlooked it. The downside of ordering via the QR code is that you do not see any further details of what you are ordering. You only see the name of the dish, for example, Rösti. That is all you know. The online ordering process should display more details. The atmosphere is pleasant, and I found the small side terrace itself quite interesting, thanks to the beautiful view of a meadow with donkeys and horses, among other animals.

Fantastic, especially with children

Simple and good. Great with small children.

Nice spot, but quite expensive compared to what you get, which is very minimalist.

We celebrated our wedding on April 24. The atmosphere, the location, the food, the warm welcome, the flexibility: everything was lovely and pleasant. Simply highly recommended!

Cozy, tasty, friendly and sustainable

Beautiful weather, beautiful green polder

Please note that you cannot park anywhere here!

I’ve been coming here for quite a while, but since it was taken over by a new owner, things have gone downhill fast... First of all, the drinks are ridiculously expensive (you pay 4 euros for a cappuccino, but they don't even provide sugar and half of what you get is foam), and secondly, the service is practically non-existent: dirty "dishes" aren't even cleared away, even when it's busy, but that's no excuse... The hygiene of the toilets isn't anything to write home about either... In short: I don't think I'll be coming here again...

We've been coming here for years, so it's time for a review! This is one of our favorite spots, surrounded by greenery and a wonderful place for children to play both indoors and outdoors. It's always cozy and delicious. They also cater to gluten-free meals, which is great. It's also a top location for parties and celebrations. We keep coming back ♥️

Few gluten-free options While I agree with other reviews that the spirit has faded somewhat, ordering with a QR code does have its advantages. A wider selection of wines and drinks wouldn't hurt either. What we find most disappointing is the limited number of gluten-free options. Under its previous ownership, Tuin vd Smid was known for its many gluten-free options (various pastries, fries, and a children's sandwich).

I haven't been there to eat yet, but I cycled past it. It's a beautiful location.

Nice place and was there for a wedding party

A really nice location in Cronesteyn Park. Enjoy a pleasant walk or bike ride and stop by for a bite to eat or a drink. We played a pub quiz here, which was very well-organized. Great place!

Nice place to sit outside in summer or enjoy some warmth in the winter. They organise a properly made pubquiz every month (in Dutch) which is highly recommended.

Looks cozy, haven't been there yet.

Always a charming restaurant and delicious food.

Unfortunately, it was a disappointment. Little to no atmosphere. Outside, they don't ask what you'd like to eat or drink; you have to do it via a QR code. Furthermore, you can't get there by car.

Last August, we got married at De Smid's garden. Better late than never, I say, as I write this review. The venue is very cozy and charming. When my husband and I went to view it beforehand, we were immediately won over. We had a fantastic day. In the lead-up to the wedding, Petra was fantastic. She helped us with ideas about the food, the ceremony setup (which we held in the sheep field), how to keep our budget within limits, and also how to make everything as wheelchair-friendly as possible. The garden staff is very friendly, approachable, and flexible. They are easy to reach by phone and email. They also take dietary requirements and allergies into account, and everything went perfectly. The food—we opted for the BBQ—was incredibly delicious! Fresh produce and great chefs with a sense of humor :) During the day, we had a lemonade bar, which was a big hit. When the bar was already open, I poured my drink there because it was so delicious :) Keke was the one who greeted us when we arrived. She's inventive, enthusiastic, friendly, and very helpful. I was quite nervous, but she managed to calm me down, explained everything clearly, and made sure everything ran smoothly. Communication on the day itself went through the masters of ceremony, which was very helpful. What was really great is that there's something for everyone at the Blacksmith's Garden. In the evening, there was a DJ in the garden room, followed by the bar and seating in the Greenhouse. And the icing on the cake: those who didn't want the crowds or music could sit outside on the terrace around several campfires. After the wedding, we were surprised with a card from the Blacksmith's Garden, with the personal touch of congratulations and a gift certificate for another meal there. We'll be redeeming it, by the way. In short, our day was perfect! Beautiful weather, beautiful location, delicious food and very nice staff.

Booking was easy and quick via Instagram chat. So there was still room on Boxing Day. It was busy with guests that afternoon. The service was friendly and welcoming. We and the other guests received just the right amount of attention. We had a great spot for drinks with eight people. The only downside was the uncomfortable chairs. Otherwise, it was fine. Regards, On behalf of our group.

A really great place, especially in the summer. Delicious lunch with a focus on vegetarian options, good coffee, and great service. A place for everyone :) We also tried the pub quiz once; it had a great atmosphere and was really well-designed. And the daily special was delicious!

Basic space with secondhand chairs and tables, but very cozy. Lovely outdoor atmosphere with delicious food and good service.

Nice place! Would recommend to sit outside! Is surrounded in greenery (field, some farm animal). Cozy during winter and summer. Menu variation is good, plenty of vegan and vegetarian options! Reservation is recommended but not necessary.

I stopped by here today during the Urban Walk and had a bite to eat. I felt like the restaurant wasn't properly prepared for the crowds. It was full inside (understandably), so we had to order outside via QR code. We waited over 15 minutes for 5 hot chocolates, when my walking partner went inside to politely ask where it was, since it was cold outside, and if something had gone wrong. The employee on duty snapped that it was busy and she couldn't do anything about the longer wait. The employee also asked the entertainment staff to tell the guests they could order outside and use the restroom. The accordionist can't sing and explain at the same time, and he told the employee this, to which the employee responded irritably that someone from the Urban Walk organization should have been there... It's unusual, it's your restaurant, and I think the owner knows how many guests are likely to come and can anticipate that. Our hot chocolate... arrived lukewarm and was placed on the table in a "friendly" (read: not at all) manner, without a friendly word. Urban Walk is perfectly suited as a calling card, but this is clearly not something we'll be repeating.

Delicious food and drinks in a top location!

Enjoy a cup of coffee in the countryside!

We had a fantastic wedding at Tuin van de Smid. The entire process, from choosing the date to the afterward, was smooth and straightforward. Unfortunately, the weather was bad, but they had plenty of solutions for that. We're still receiving many compliments (a month later) about the food and how beautiful the venue was. In short, a fantastic day. Thank you so much :)

So essentially I have been charged 4,40EUR for 100ml milk with a splash of coffee. I asked for a decaff capuccino to take away and after 15 min waiting, this is what I get…

Great coffee, beautiful location. A bit more difficult to reach for those with limited mobility. You can't get there by car, which is part of its charm. It would be nice to be able to drop someone off before parking elsewhere.

Special place. Perfect for relaxing with children.

I'm really disappointed with what the new owner did with the menu. It was originally fully vegetarian with plenty of vegan options, but now there are meat options on the menu. I used to come here all the time because of its standards to not have meat on the menu, but now that that's no longer the case, I unfortunately won't be eating here anymore. It's not simply because of the fact that there's meat on a menu, but because of the change of standards of the restaurant. Plus the bathrooms were not clean when we went there, and the food was not as great as I remember, and there was a hair in my food.

Attended a wedding at this unique venue. Very cozy atmosphere, friendly staff. It's a shame you have to walk for fifteen minutes (whether you're in heels or not) to reach the venue. It's also not very well signposted coming from the provincial road.

What a lovely place! Spaciously designed in the heart of nature, with a large terrace and plenty to do. I was there for a presentation in the garden – a perfect location, relaxed yet professional. The bar is also cozy, with a surprising selection of local beers on tap. Parking is a bit of a challenge, and you have to walk a bit, but honestly, that's all part of the fun: you immediately walk through a beautiful green area, and it automatically puts you in the right mood. Highly recommended!

Aside from the prices, it's a really fun and friendly place. Especially in the summer when you want to get out with your kids. The only downside is that the food is quite expensive.

Today, after a year, I went back to this place and was incredibly disappointed. Last summer, I got married here, and we specifically chose it because they don't have any animals on the menu. Now, the menu is no longer vegetarian. There were also only a few vegan options. Outside, you order via a QR code; the allergens aren't listed online, so you still have to pick up a paper menu. It's a real shame that the new owners have abandoned the whole concept, making it much less vegan-friendly. The food itself was okay, but the fries aren't as good as they used to be, and there was a hair in the food.

Beautiful location on the edge of town. Casual atmosphere. The only downside is the coffee. It wasn't hot and tasted bland. Not recommended.

I couldn't find any psychedelic mushrooms

Cheap standard factory apple pie.

It could have been so beautiful here; the location is good and nature is quite present. The relatively small polder park is wedged between three extremely busy roads and a train track, so it's already heavily congested, and unfortunately, several high-rise buildings will soon appear on the edges of the park. And under the water, not everything is rosy anymore either; in the summer of 2021, literally every carp died there, down to the last fish. A virus was later ruled out as the cause. There would certainly have been room for a nice little teahouse somewhere in a leafy corner of this park. "Urban Frenchmen or Urban Friars"—you know, those types with "big mouths" and without a cell phone nearby, who immediately panic—they simply don't just walk into nature anymore. Walking only makes sense for urban friars if you're actually walking somewhere. ;) The journey itself isn't important; it's about the destination, which is why flying is so popular these days in a paved country, of course, because it doesn't take very long (except when you travel via Schiphol, of course). But we had arrived at the park by bike, because there, a burned-out blacksmith from Leiden (he should have stayed a blacksmith, by the way, when I see how much a tiny wrought-iron hand hoe costs at Vreekens, 145 euros...) was starting a huge restaurant. Well, restaurant... unfortunately, it ultimately turned into a mega-project and an expedition that spiraled so terribly out of control that it now "takes over" almost half the park. I arrived on a sunny day and was shocked; it was truly overcrowded, with children screaming everywhere, and even noisier parents sitting on chairs facing each other "to drown out all the background noise." Overcrowding also leaves almost indelible marks in the restrooms, as you can see in the photos. Those restrooms should really be thoroughly cleaned every hour, but that's clearly no longer possible there. Sure, they make good money, and they provide jobs, and above all, the children certainly don't care, but a quiet espresso together is no longer an option. Oh yes, and if you decide to take the risk because, for example, "your legs won't ride a bike anymore," then by all means, go to the restroom at home...

From a unique gem on the outskirts of Leiden, this place has recently been transformed into a meager, overly commercial, and overly glorified snack bar. Where a solid 5 stars used to be deserved, I can no longer give them. Take the "patatje tuin" (patty garden), for example. It used to be a generous portion, with lots of garnish and nice, thick fries. Now there's barely a spoonful of garnish, and the fries almost look like they came from McDonald's. Even worse: the old version is still being posted on Instagram at the same time—quite misleading, in my opinion. Furthermore, the location has become too crowded and uninviting. Clearly, they need to maximize revenue, so weddings, parties, drinks, and petting zoos all run together loudly. It's a shame, because this was one of our favorite spots in Leiden.

Nice place and friendly staff. It's a shame the restrooms are so dirty. They're never really cleaned, only a bit superficially. I also don't understand why they're suddenly adding meat to the menu. Under the previous owner, everything was vegetarian, and that was delicious for everyone. You didn't miss anything; in fact, vegetarian bitterballen and meatballs are much better. There are so many delicious vegetarian options, so why are there still dead animals on the menu?

Really great atmosphere! With the farm animals around and the terras. Also inside with a spot for small kids to play and a couch. They are not open till late, but good service from kind people. Are coming here more often now with people.

What a lovely spot just outside Leiden! Very relaxing, delicious vegetarian and vegan lunch. Large terrace next to a horse pasture. Unfortunately, it started to rain, but it was nice inside too. Friendly people. Quick service by email when I needed a receipt later. Highly recommended!

We had a wonderful time getting married here, it was a fantastic day and the Blacksmith's Garden arranged everything perfectly for us.

Nice opportunity, although the hostess made some mistakes.

Update July 2025; This is no longer a vegetarian restaurant and that annoys me. I really wonder if they keep the fish and meet separate from the vegetarian dishes. Pretty sure they will throw the beef croquettes in the same oil as the vegetarian/vegan ones. Really reconsidering skipping this place for lunch in the future… 2022: Glad they are open for pickup. Food is simple but nice. Good place to get something to eat while you are in Cronesteyn.

Spent the whole Saturday afternoon hanging out. Fantastic place. Be sure to bring garbage bags if you're traveling with kids (two wet spots on the back seat).

Best place in Leiden for a drink or lunch!!!! What a nice place, we live in Haarlem but every time we are in Leiden, we like to come here to have a nice lunch and/or a coffee. Children can have a great time there with all the space and animals, but it is also nice for adults! You can also take a beautiful walk there, or play a game of jeu de boules :)

Love this spot in the middle of a green park. Nice atmosphere to sit outside

Hi! What a beautiful place you have created here 🌿. I was very surprised and happy to see the name ‘Smid’ – that is also my last name! I live in the Netherlands but my roots are in Syria. May I ask why you chose this name for the restaurant? It feels very special to see this connection 💚. Greetings, Hamida

This used to be my favorite place because of the location and vegan food selection. Since the new owner I have had a few bad experiences: that cow's milk was served instead of oat milk, egg with a dish while I clearly indicated that I wanted the vegan option and deep-frying with a nasty aftertaste (probably the frying fat has not been changed for a long time). I also do not understand the choice to add dead animals to the menu; the whole image of this place was sustainable and animal-friendly, this is completely contradictory.

Lovely spacious, delicious food and drinks with a beautiful view and walking area right next to it. You can arrange service with Qr code

Used to stop by weekly, but lately it has gone downhill in a major way. The wellness stands out like a sore thumb and the place keeps losing any nature it had left, in place they are making more buildings. They say they are nature friendly, but removing the flower garden and birds for wellness is far from it. There used to be a beautiful wild area with thorny bushes on the other side of the wellness across the water. Now it has turned into a desert with hardly any growth left. They call it an animal food forest but no animal wants to live there. There used to live so many birds in the brambles, now only silence. I will never again come here it is very sad to see.

Celebrating my mother's 85th birthday was great

Really a fantastic place where you can enjoy yourself all day long. In the middle of the green, surrounded by animals, enough to play for the children, both inside and outside very nice. Also the service is very friendly and flexible. Food and drinks are also delicious, price is a bit high, but otherwise I would sit here every day;)

You have to know how to find it, but then it is an oasis of peace in the middle of Cronesteyn park. Don't expect a 5-star restaurant, but just to eat something without much fuss. Plenty of space to sit and enough space to put your bike. You can't get there by car.

QR ordering is impersonal but fast! Friendly service. Too bad the burrata was sold out. Still had a nice meal!

I've been here for 1 hour and it took them 20 minutes to get the drinks. We had a reservation and we weren't allowed in because they forgot we had a reservation

Amazing and cozy place in the middle of Leiden for a coffee

Really nice place especially if on a sunny day. Freshly made delicious orders. It is best to come on foot or by bike as there is no parking available. Other option with an auto is to park on the other side of the road and take a short walk.

This used to be an extraordinary place with a philosophy, animal friendly, vegan and organic. Since the new owners took over, this philosophy is thrown out the of farm and became a regular child-friendly with farm animals restaurant. Not organic not vegan anymore. It has changed much into a place with “La Place” vibes, like the audience. You can even order and pay for your drinks without having seen any staff! And they put a sauna in the backyard (dankjewellness), hopefully temporarily and the idea is nice but literally everyone can see it out in the open which makes it not zen at all but rather exhibitionistic and tacky. I hope the whole garden will turn back into an off-the-grid place, but I am afraid that this is a next step for the whole Cronesteijn park to become more commercialized. Overall it is a nice for children to see farm animals from nearby while you’re enjoying your coffee on the spacious terrace.

Heerlijk gelunched. QR bestelling werkt perfect, eten kwam snel en bediening was bijzonder vriendelijk. Wij komen zeker terug!

Very expensive, slow service. Otherwise nice.

A beautiful location with sheep and pigs. A nice view we enjoyed whilst having a tea. The tea is great!

If you pay €3.80 for a cup of weak tea, you can have a cookie with it.

Lovely outside on the terrace for tea and lunch. Sufficiently varied menu. Both drinking and eating. Both vegetarian and non-vegetarian. Pink cake with tea was delicious. For lunch a sandwich with original vegetarian variant of filet american from carrot. I thought it was tasty. Quantity of the generous slice of bread is sufficient for a full lunch. Attractively presented. Fresh tea (from exclusivite from Leiden) and lunch (with sourdough bread from city bakery water&bloem from Leiden). Nice that they work with local entrepreneurs. No orders are taken outside, it is done via QR and payment is made immediately when placing an order. We didn't notice at first and therefore had to wait a long time (for no service). But after ordering, friendly and smooth service. There is (ordering) service at the table inside. Nice place to be. Nice seating both inside and outside. Price/quality ratio reasonable, some choices on the menu a bit pricey.

Very nice place to eat in the park. A bit alternative. Easy to order and pay with qr-code.

Enorm achteruit gegaan sinds nieuwe eigenaar. Sfeer en vaste personeel is weg. Van vriendelijk en laagdrempelig naar commercieel, alleen bestellen met QR code waardoor personeel alleen nog als robot haalt en brengt, heel massaal geworden op dit landelijke plekje, duur en het brood is werkelijk keihard. Heel jammer, heb de sterren alleen gegeven voor de locatie

The blacksmith's garden is apparently not as sympathetic, animal-friendly and ecological as it appears. Animals have to be slaughtered so that there is more room for commercial activities. Don't go here, it's fake 'responsible and sustainable'. UPDATE: they recently tried to put a healthy pony to sleep and there are firm plans for 'unnecessary' animals. Heard this from insiders. Old animals must go, but new lambs must be brought in every year.

It was once a beautiful natural and animal-friendly place. Animals have to make way for the sauna. The flower garden that used to bloom beautifully, attracting bees and butterflies, is now neglected and must also make way for the sauna. In addition, everything is also at the expense of the volunteers who lovingly care for the animals every day, regardless of weather or wind. This place is really getting ruined. Not worth a star anymore

A fantastic green oasis right next to the city 💚 with delicious food, a spacious terrace and super friendly service. Every new initiative from the new owners really feels like a bull's eye 💚as

A wonderful place. I regularly go there. Quite relaxed.

Nice to sit outside. With a pastry or a tasty lunch.

Food is really amazingly delicious. And the combination with then going to @dankjewellness makes the day completely crazy. Good food, sauna, ice bath, fire, tea, nature. Dear all. Thank you!

Had coffee here around half past ten on Sunday morning. Nice location and cozy atmosphere. Haven't been in a while. I was shocked by the price of 4 euros for a cappuccino. While cappuccino was relatively cold and without biscuit. Disappointment

Very good, friendly service (and also professional). Nice casual atmosphere, excellent menu, clean-looking kitchen and a beautiful location. I like coming there :)

Heerlijk gegeten van het zondagse buffet. Leuk om nu ook ‘’s avonds van deze prachtige plek te genieten in een informele sfeer voor een goede prijs. Dit ga ik vaker doen.

Perfect spot for your culinary treats, right outside the buzzin city. So close, but so far ❤️

Delicious coffee and sandwiches!

Nice location. Drank cappuccino, but for 4 euros per cup you can have a cookie with it.

Enjoyed sitting on the terrace in the sun in the silence of Cronestein. Tasty sandwich and a drink.

Een aanrader! Leuke plek, die onder deze eigenaar steeds een beetje beter (verzorgder) wordt. Attent vrolijk en voldoende personeel. En het eten was ook top. Recent een high tea in de kas gehad, ook dat was super. Kortom: ga en geniet!

Nice atmospheric restaurant, with a small petting zoo. Plenty of hiking trails and things to discover in the area. It is also a meeting place for IVN Leiden nature explorers.

I was here yesterday with my father. We go there for lunch together every now and then. The food is delicious and I always enjoy going here. I think some dishes have become quite expensive, such as the expensive sandwich with hummus for 11.50. To be honest, I expected a little more in terms of quantity. Our receipt was lost, so our food took too long and we had to report this ourselves. We were then offered one drink from home. I still thought: what great service. When paying we found out that this was for 1 drink for 2 people who had been waiting. I still can't get over what a strange service I find this. Don't offer anything or a drink for both. I think one drink is a strange way of indirectly selling something. And then it doesn't feel hospitable or service-oriented. it just hadn't occurred to us that when the waitress said: I can offer you one drink from home, that this would be for 1 person. In any case, I would say that more clearly next time. That will help, otherwise you as a customer will really get the wrong impression and leave with a strange feeling.

Cozy informal atmosphere. Enjoyed something delicious 😎👨‍🦳🚲🚲

Good fries, garnish, friendly staff. Nature atmosphere, animals.

Very nice place, extremely slow service

Location great Staff fine. Compulsory pins, not cool. Mediocre food for the money. Went by again today, thought I could have a coffee, because it was before closing time. But staff was already closed in their minds. Another disappointment.

Nice location but imho unsuitable for meetings with guests from outside Leiden (who do not come by bike).

Chaotic condition. After the lunch order had been taken and we had waited about half an hour, the waiter came to announce that unfortunately the noon meal was not possible. 5 people in our party then had to make a choice again.

service started really well! But it subsided a bit during our visit. Staff no longer came by to take orders.

I made a reservation for our birthday with a friend. I thought €30 for a High Tea was quite expensive, but I took the chance. To be honest…. It was delicious, more than enough and the service is also very friendly. Everything at ease and without stress. Highly recommended….

Delicious food and the concept of sharing different dishes appeals to me. And a fantastic place. Too bad they don't go for 100% organic. With as much organic as possible, that aspect remains too vague, I think.

New owner and new formula. Personally, I think it's a shame that the bio/vegetarian concept has not been retained. It's also a pity that I had to order a cold croquette that I waited 45 minutes for via QR code. Blondje on tap is very tasty.

I often visit "De Tuin" with friends and acquaintances and everyone thinks it is a shame that the garden layout has changed so much. It used to be much more fun. Too bad there is nothing on the menu without added sugar.

I enjoyed it. Everything vegetarian, but good products. As an occasional meat eater, I don't notice it because of the delicious taste. The fries are also delicious. Good and customer-friendly service. Location: In the middle of nature

Delicious food, lots of vegetarian and vegan options, and a beautiful location!

Drink coffee at the teahouse. Friendly atmosphere due to the surrounding petting zoo. So audiences of all ages. Order online at tables with QR. It takes some getting used to for the older generation.🙈