Het Kleine Pakhuis

Het Kleine Pakhuis is a nineteenth-century warehouse on a Leiden canal, converted down to its beams and brick rather than up into a polished event space. At thirty guests it's the smallest venue in this list, built for couples who'd rather fill a small, characterful room completely than half-fill a bigger one. A small enclosed courtyard gives just enough outdoor room for photos or a pre-dinner drink.

There's no in-house kitchen and no default catering package — you bring your own caterer and drinks, and your decorator of choice can move in the day before rather than racing the clock on the morning itself. A DJ is allowed, the layout is pillar-free, and its address on the Langegracht puts the canal right outside the door — no long driveway or car park in between.