Leiden University facts for kids
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Universiteit Leiden
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Former names
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Rijksuniversiteit Leiden |
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| Motto |
Libertatis Praesidium (Latin)
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Motto in English
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Bastion of Freedom |
| Type | Public research university |
| Established | 8 February 1575 |
| Founder | William of Orange |
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Academic affiliation
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TPC |
| Budget | €777 million (2021) |
| President | Annetje Ottow |
| Rector | Hester Bijl |
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Academic staff
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1,862 (2021) |
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Administrative staff
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1,573 |
| Students | 37,136 (2021–22) |
| Undergraduates | 24,496 (2021–22) |
| Postgraduates | 12,395 (2021–22) |
| 886 (2021) | |
| Location |
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52°9′25″N 4°29′7″E / 52.15694°N 4.48528°E |
| Campus | Urban and College town |
| Language | English, Dutch (Additional languages for language programmes) |
| Colours | LEI Blue |
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 Location in Netherlands
Location in Europe
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Leiden University (also known as LEI) is a public research university in Leiden, Netherlands. It was started in 1575 by William the Silent, who was the Prince of Orange. This makes it the oldest university in the Netherlands.
The university is famous for its long history and its focus on social sciences. It became very important during the Dutch Golden Age. Many smart people from all over Europe came to the Netherlands because it was a place where new ideas were welcome. Famous thinkers like René Descartes and artists like Rembrandt studied or worked here.
Leiden University has seven main academic areas, called faculties. It also has over fifty departments and more than forty research centers. Its main campus is spread out across the city of Leiden. There is also a second campus in The Hague. This campus has a special college for liberal arts and sciences.
Many important people have studied at Leiden University. This includes members of the Dutch royal family, like Queen Beatrix and King Willem-Alexander. Ten prime ministers of the Netherlands, including Mark Rutte, also went to Leiden. Even a US President, John Quincy Adams, studied here!
Contents
History of Leiden University
How the University Started
In 1575, the northern part of the Netherlands did not have its own university. The only other university in the area was in Leuven, which was controlled by Spain. William the Silent, the Prince of Orange, wanted to create a university in the northern Netherlands. He wanted to educate people in religion and train smart individuals for the government.
It is believed that Leiden was chosen as a reward. The city had bravely defended itself against Spanish attacks in 1574. Even though William was fighting against Philip II of Spain, Philip's name still appeared on the official founding document. Philip II even told his subjects not to study in Leiden!
The university first started in a convent building. Then it moved to other places before settling in a former convent of nuns in 1581. This is still where the main university building stands today.
Early Years and Discoveries
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Leiden University quickly became well-known. This was thanks to brilliant scholars like Justus Lipsius and Hugo Grotius. Within 50 years of its founding, it had a great reputation. By the 1640s, over 500 students from all over Europe were studying there. This made it the biggest Protestant university at the time.
In the 18th century, famous academics like Herman Boerhaave taught at the university. Later, in 1896, the Zeeman effect was discovered here by Pieter Zeeman. This effect explains how light changes in a magnetic field. Soon after, Hendrik Antoon Lorentz explained why it happened.
Leiden also had the world's first university lab for very low temperatures. Professor Heike Kamerlingh Onnes reached a temperature just one degree above absolute zero. In 1908, he was the first to turn helium into a liquid. He also helped discover superconductivity in metals. This is when electricity can flow without any resistance.
Leiden University Today
The Leiden University Library is huge! It has more than 5.2 million books and 50,000 journals. It also holds amazing collections of old handwritten books, maps, and photos. It has the world's largest collections about Indonesia and the Caribbean.
In 2005, a special discovery was made in one of Leiden's libraries. A handwritten paper by Albert Einstein was found. It was about the quantum theory of gases.
Working with Other Universities
In 2012, Leiden University started working closely with Delft University of Technology and Erasmus University Rotterdam. This partnership helps them improve their research and teaching. Leiden University also partners with Duke University School of Law for a summer program on global law. This program takes place at its campus in The Hague.
University Locations and Buildings
The university does not have one main campus. Its buildings are spread out across the city of Leiden. Some buildings, like the Gravensteen, are very old. Others, like Van Steenis and Lipsius, are much more modern.
Special University Institutions
Many important institutions are connected to the university. These include the Royal Netherlands Institute of Southeast Asian and Caribbean Studies. The Leiden Observatory, founded in 1633, is also part of it. There are also several museums. These include the Natural History Museum and the National Museum of Antiquities. The latter has amazing collections from Egypt and India.
The Hortus Botanicus Leiden (botanical garden) is the oldest botanical garden in the Netherlands. It is also one of the oldest in the world. For over 400 years, experts have carefully grown plants from all over the world here. You can see a reconstructed Clusius garden and an 18th-century Orangery. There are also rare old trees and tropical greenhouses with unique plant collections.
Campus in The Hague
In 1998, the university expanded to The Hague. This city is now home to Campus The Hague. Six of the seven main faculties have a presence here. The Faculty of Governance and Global Affairs is only located in The Hague. Also, Leiden University College The Hague, a liberal arts and sciences college, is here.
At this campus, the university offers courses in law, political science, public administration, and medicine. It moved into the new 'Wijnhaven' building in 2016. Since 2017, the Leiden University Medical Center also has a branch at Campus The Hague.
How the University is Organized
The university is divided into seven main faculties. These faculties offer about 50 different bachelor's degree programs. They also offer over 100 master's degree programs.
- Archaeology
- Governance and Global Affairs
- Humanities
- Law
- Medicine / LUMC
- Science
- Social and Behavioural sciences
Types of Study Programs
Most university departments offer their own study programs.
Bachelor's Degrees
Undergraduate programs lead to a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.), or Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) degree. These are usually the first degrees you get after high school.
Master's Degrees
After a bachelor's degree, students can choose from many master's programs. Leiden University offers over 100 master's programs. These lead to a Master of Arts (MA), Master of Science (MSc), Master of Philosophy (MPhil), or Master of Laws (LLM) degree. The MPhil is a very advanced degree. It is for students who want to become researchers or professors.
Doctorate Programs
Many departments and research institutes offer doctorate programs. These lead to a Ph.D. degree. A Ph.D. is the highest academic degree you can get. It means you have done a lot of original research in your field.
University Achievements and Rankings
| University rankings | |
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| Global – Overall | |
| ARWU World | 101-150 (2023) |
| CWUR World | 88 (2023) |
| CWTS World | 89 (2023) |
| QS World | =126 (2024) |
| Reuters World | 71 (2019) |
| THE World | 77 (2024) |
| USNWR Global | =74 (2022-23) |
| Global – Law | |
| QS Law | 23 (2023) |
| THE Law | 17 (2024) |
| Global – Liberal arts | |
| ARWU Social science | 40 (2022) |
| QS Arts & Humanities | 31 (2022) |
| QS Politics | 20 (2022) |
| THE Arts and Humanities | 24 (2022) |
Leiden University is known as one of the top universities in the world. It often ranks high in global university lists. For example, in 2024, it was ranked 77th in the world by Times Higher Education. Its programs in Law, Politics, and Arts also rank very highly.
Famous People from Leiden University
Many brilliant minds have been connected to Leiden University.
Spinoza Prize Winners
The Spinoza Prize is the highest science award in the Netherlands. Twenty-six professors from Leiden University have won this award. These winners include experts in history, languages, math, physics, and medicine. For example, Frits van Oostrom won for his work on Dutch literature. Ewine van Dishoeck is an astronomer who won the prize.
Nobel Prize Winners
Several professors from Leiden University have won the Nobel Prize for their research done at the university.
- Heike Kamerlingh Onnes won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1913. He was recognized for his work with very low temperatures.
- Hendrik Antoon Lorentz and Pieter Zeeman also won the Nobel Prize. They were awarded for their important discoveries about light and electricity.
- The physiologist Willem Einthoven won for inventing the string galvanometer. This tool helped create the electrocardiogram (ECG), which checks heart health.
Other Nobel Prize winners who were connected to Leiden include famous physicists like Albert Einstein and Enrico Fermi. Many other great thinkers and scientists have also studied or taught at Leiden University.
See also
In Spanish: Universidad de Leiden para niños
- Leiden school
- Leiden University College The Hague
- List of early modern universities in Europe
- List of rectores magnifici of Leiden University
