University Campus Spui is counting down to its opening

University Campus Spui, Leiden University’s fourth location in The Hague, is about to open its doors. The transformation of the former V&D department store into a university campus is becoming more visible each week. In the coming period, moving trucks will be coming and going to deliver all the loose furnishings on time. On 2 February, the first students will enter the building.

A unique, open knowledge centre where academic teaching, research, and practice reinforce one another, that is the new location on the Spui. Here, in the political and administrative heart of the Netherlands, Leiden University, together with TU Delft, the Open University, LUMC and Universities of the Netherlands, is making science and education tangible and accessible to everyone.

It is the first time that multiple universities are joining forces on this scale in the same city, operating from a single campus. From security, public administration and law to preventive healthcare, digital government and ethically responsible artificial intelligence, the five partners each contribute their own expertise to developing the education and research of the future.

Start of the Second Semester

The building is currently being prepared for its first use. From the second semester, on 2 February, the first lectures for students will begin at University Campus Spui. One month earlier, the staff of the Economy and Society and International Relations and Organisations programmes will move into their offices.

University Campus Spui will eventually accommodate around four thousand students, working professionals, researchers, and lecturers every day. Residents of The Hague and other interested visitors are also welcome to attend lectures, debates, or guided tours. The campus aims to strengthen the connection between academia, the city, people, and society as much as possible. Equally important is the connection with Leiden University staff. Ample flexible workspaces will be available across all The Hague locations so that colleagues from Leiden can also work there.

Open and inviting appearance

During the renovation, special requirements apply to the listed building, designed by Jan Kuijt and completed in 1930. University Campus Spui preserves its historical character while gaining a new, open appearance. With a renewed façade featuring generous windows, the campus opens itself to the outside world and brings the vibrant city of peace, justice, and security indoors.

The monumental ground floor forms the inviting heart of the campus. The original entrance has been restored to its full glory, and the atrium now houses the University Sports Centre and the information desk. The basement will offer a spacious bicycle parking facility for 1,350 bicycles.

View of the Binnenhof

A wide staircase leads visitors to modern lecture halls on the first floor and further up to the restaurant with work and study spaces on the second floor. This will become the central meeting place, complete with a rooftop terrace. “A place where you can catch your breath and where spontaneous conversations arise,” says architect Peter Hagelaar of SWECO. The restaurant embodies the campus’s mission: to meet, exchange, and grow together.

On the third floor, Leiden University’s teaching spaces will seamlessly connect to the Open University’s study and work environment. One floor higher, Leiden University and TU Delft will merge their worlds of technology, policy, and societal impact. The fifth floor will house study and work spaces for Leiden University, and LUMC will focus here on research into preventive care and health. Universities of the Netherlands will also find its place on this floor. At the very top, a vibrant student hub will emerge, featuring an open common room and a rooftop terrace with an impressive view of The Hague’s skyline and the Binnenhof.

A campus to be proud of

In the meantime, the former department store is still palpable throughout the building. Original columns, ceilings, and stairwells with 1930s tiling have been preserved, creating an intriguing blend of historical charm and a stimulating modern environment. In the coming months, the various partners will continue furnishing their own spaces, giving the interior an increasingly distinctive character.

With every week of construction, it becomes more evident that a unique and open hub of knowledge is taking shape here, one that will be meaningful to everyone: a welcoming place where students feel at home, where staff enjoy working, and where the public feels invited. A place where today’s major societal challenges find a place not only in curricula and research, but also in everyday encounters in hallways, on the rooftop terrace, and in the restaurant. In short, a campus to be proud of, one that, as of 2 February, will belong to all of us.