Liveblog: Temporary closure of the Huygens Building
From now on, all information and updates about the closure of the Huygens Building will be shared in this live blog on the Faculty staff website.
Last update - #6, Friday 17 October 2025, 17:00
Huygens Building remains closed, phased reopening
The Huygens Building will remain closed for the time being. It is expected that the building can be reopened gradually, floor by floor, over the coming period. Information about the phased reopening — how, what, and when — will be shared with LION staff and students by email from Monday onwards. This live blog is now closed. Once the Huygens Building has fully reopened, an announcement will be made on the Faculty website.
Updat #5: Wednesday 15 October 2025, 18:00
Huygens Building closed until Friday
Repair work has started, with the highest priority given to resuming the first-year practicals as soon as possible. It is expected that the scheduled first-year practical on Friday 17 October can go ahead. Students will be informed about this separately. The rest of the Huygens Building will remain closed until Friday 17 October.
Phased reopening
The repair work is expected to take at least another week. Depending on the complexity of the repairs, individual floors will be reopened day by day over the coming week. Staff and students of LION will receive separate updates from the LION Management Team.
Education
As long as the repair work continues, lectures, tutorials, and other classes scheduled for the week of 20 October will be moved to other locations. Please check Brightspace for the updated location of your class or tutorial.
Next update: Friday 17 October
Update #4: Tuesday 14 October 2025 11.00
Huygens Building remains closed for now
The Huygens Building will remain closed on Wednesday 15 and Thursday 16 October. It is expected that the building will also remain closed on Friday 17 October.
Assessment still ongoing
The assessment of the (electrical) damage in the building is still ongoing. By the end of Wednesday, we expect to have a clear picture of which parts of the building are safe to access and where repairs are required. Based on this, we expect to know by the end of Wednesday whether the building can reopen on Friday or must remain closed.
Teaching on Wednesday and Thursday relocated
Lectures, tutorials and other teaching activities scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday have been or are being relocated to alternative locations. Please check Brightspace to find out where and how your class will take place — whether on campus or online.
For practicals scheduled in the Huygens Building on Friday, we are currently looking into whether these can (partly) go ahead. If they can, students will be informed separately.
Next update: Wednesday 15 October, (end of) afternoon.
Update #3: Monday 13 October 2025 17:00
The situation remains unchanged. On Tuesday 14 October, the Huygens Building will remain closed, while work continues on the assessment of the damage to the electrical installations.
Students that are scheduled to attend a lecture or work group in the Huygens Building on either of these days, please check Brightspace and MyTimetable for the updated location of your class.
Next update: Tuesday 14 October, during the morning.
Update #2: Monday 13 October 2025 13:00
Assessment in progress
Gaining a clear understanding of the situation is essential to resolve the issues efficiently. Naturally, our goal is to restore safe access to the building as soon as possible. On Monday morning, a thorough assessment began, carried out by a specialised team from the Real Estate department and Heijmans. They are currently focusing on the extent of the damage to the electrical installations in the building, supported by colleagues from LION and the Faculty.
Action plan and next steps
Based on the assessment, the Crisis Team, together with the LION Management Team (MT), will draw up an action plan to make the building safe and operational again as soon as possible. The Faculty Crisis Team expects to have an initial overview of the situation later this afternoon.
Next update: Monday 13 October, around 17:00.
Update #1: Sunday 12 October 2025
The Huygens Building will be closed on Monday 13 and Tuesday 14 October due to a burst water pipe on the 12th floor. As a result, safety in the building cannot be guaranteed: several electrical installations have been switched off.
Therefore, the Faculty Crisis Team decided to close the building late Sunday afternoon. The Huygens Building is expected to become operational again sometime during Tuesday, but will remain closed for now. The Oort Building and the Old Measurement Hall will remain open.
Employees have been requested to work from home on Monday and Tuesday.
All scheduled teaching activities have been relocated to alternative venues.
Students that are scheduled to attend a lecture or work group in the Huygens Building on either of these days, please check Brightspace and MyTimetable for the updated location of your class.
An update on the situation will be shared around midday on Monday 13 October.