Spui Campus counts down to grand opening
Spui Campus, Leiden University’s fourth location in The Hague, will soon open its doors. The former V&D department store’s transformation into a university campus is becoming more visible by the week. Removal vans will soon be driving back and forth to move all the furniture there in time. The first students will arrive on 2 February.
A unique open knowledge hub where academic teaching, research and practice reinforce one another. In the new Spui building in the political and administrative heart of the Netherlands, Leiden University, together with Delft University of Technology, the Open University, the LUMC and Universities of the Netherlands, will make research and teaching tangible and accessible to all.
This is the first time that several universities have joined forces on this scale in the same city, united on a single campus. From security, public governance and law to preventive healthcare, digital government and ethical AI. Each of the five partners will harness its own expertise to help shape the research and teaching of the future.
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The Spui Campus entrance on the ground floor -
Modern lecture halls on the first floor -
The rooftop terrace next to the restaurant on the second floor -
View of the rooftop terrace -
The restaurant on the second floor -
The bronze letters on the facade are in the same typeface as the former V&D building, as a nod to the building’s history.
Lectures start in second semester
At the moment, the building is being prepared for its first use. The first lectures for students will start at Spui Campus from the second semester, on 2 February. The staff from the Economy & Society and International Relations and Organisations will move into their offices a month earlier.
Spui Campus will soon be hosting around 4,000 students, learning professionals, researchers and lecturers daily. And residents of The Hague and other interested parties will be welcome at lectures, debates or guided tours. The campus wants to forge the strongest possible connections between academia, the city, and individuals and society. And with Leiden University’s staff – there will be enough flexible workspaces at all our buildings in The Hague for staff from Leiden to come and work there.
Open and inviting
During the renovation, this listed building, designed by architect Jan Kuikt and completed in 1930, had to meet a special brief: it should retain its historical character while gaining a new, open look. With a redesigned facade featuring generous windows, the campus opens itself to the outside world and brings the vibrant city of peace, justice and security inside.
The ground floor is the inviting heart of the campus. The original entrance has been restored to its former glory, and the atrium will house the University Sports Centre and information desk. The basement will house a large parking facility for 1,350 bikes.
View of Binnenhof
A wide staircase will lead to modern lecture halls on the first floor and up to the restaurant with work and study spaces on the second floor. This central meeting space will also feature a rooftop terrace. ‘A welcoming spot for a breather and spontaneous conversations,’ said architect Peter Hagelaar from SWECO architects. The restaurant embodies the very purpose of the campus: a place to come together, exchange ideas and grow.
The third floor will house Leiden University’s teaching rooms, connecting seamlessly to the work and study spaces of the Open University. One floor higher, Leiden and Delft University of Technology will connect their worlds of technology, policy and impact on society. On the fifth floor, there are study and work spaces from Leiden University, and the LUMC focuses its research on health and preventive healthcare here. The Universities of the Netherlands will also have a presence here. Right at the top will be a vibrant student centre with an open common room and a rooftop terrace with a breathtaking view of the Hague skyline and Binnenhof.
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View of Binnenhof -
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Lecture hall on the fourth floor -
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A campus to be proud of
The former department store has left its mark throughout the building. Original pillars, ceilings and staircases with tiles from the 1930s have been retained, creating a mix of historical charm and exciting modern environment. Over the coming months, the various partners will furnish their spaces and the interior will begin to develop a character of its own.
With each week of construction, it’s becoming clear that a unique and open knowledge hub is taking shape that will be meaningful for all: a welcoming place where students feel at home, staff enjoy working and the public really does feel welcome. A place where the major challenges of our time feature not only in research and teaching, but also in everyday encounters in the corridors, the restaurant and on the rooftop terrace. A campus to be proud of – one that, from 2 February, will belong to us all.
Opening hours Spui Campus
Monday to Friday: 7.30 - 23.00
Saturday: 9.00 - 21.30
Sunday: 10.30 - 21.30