In the 17th century, Leiden was well known as the City of Freedom and the City of Refugees. Tens of thousands of religious refugees from England, Flanders, Germany and France found a safe haven in Leiden. The city’s university attracted academics from all over the continent. Under the motto 'Preasidium Libertatis', they could research ideas and publish works forbidden elsewhere. The 2020 Commemoration Year is a fine opportunity to further explore this subject matter. Today too, several organizations in Leiden work to aid refugees. What does it mean to arrive in a strange new land as a refugee? How does one come into contact with people in the city? How does one become part of their community without losing one’s own identity?