4 September 2025

The new academic year at the faculty has started! This is a special year, as we are launching our new degree programmes in The Hague as well as renewed curricula in Leiden. In doing so, we have made our educational offering even more engaging and challenging, with a strong social orientation.

As staff members of a faculty with a rich history, we are shaping our future with a clear vision, commitment and confidence. An important part of this is multidisciplinarity; we are investing in the connections between our departments, institutes, and different areas of expertise as the key to research with impact and innovative education for our students. 

On your desk, you should have found a message printed on special eco-friendly paper embedded with flower seeds – a symbol of the fertile soil in which our faculty can ‘germinate’ its ideas, talents, and ambitions. We hope this small gesture serves as a reminder of the power of collaboration and innovation. If, for some reason, you didn't receive this, please inform the board secretary: bestuurssecretaris@law.leidenuniv.nl.  

We look forward to the Opening of the Faculty Year on 5 September. Continuing with our 450th anniversary celebrations, we will mark this milestone not only with colleagues, but also with alumni and, perhaps, with your family, partner or friends. It’s going to be an inspirational start to this new academic year. 

We wish you a flourishing, successful, and above all, enjoyable year ahead!  

Best wishes,  
The Faculty Board 

Suzan Stoter, Jan Crijns, Gertjan Boshuizen and Roel Kwast