Leiden University (LU)

Leiden University was founded in 1575 and is one of the leading international research universities in Europe. The University has seven faculties and a campus in both Leiden and The Hague. Our motto is Praesidium Libertatis – Bastion of Freedom. o is Praesidium Libertatis – Bastion of Freedom. We will always be relevant, now and in the future. Our pioneering research and teaching equip new generations to make the difference in a global society. We are driven by the desire to know, understand, interpret and create. We work together to answer the questions of today, and keep an eye to the questions of tomorrow. We do so by optimally employing the diversity of our academic disciplines, through activities that both deepen and broaden our knowledge. We create knowledge and value in constant connection with one another and our environment. We see everyone – staff members and students – as an equally valuable member of our community. We cherish our diversity, are aware of what unites us, respect one another and our different roles, and work closely together. We are a reliable authority in societal and political debates. Leiden University was the first university to be established in the Netherlands. William of Orange gave Leiden Academia Lugduno Batava in 1575, it is said in recognition of the city’s courageous resistance against the seige by the Spanish invaders. Bastion of freedom Our motto is praesidium libertatis – bastion of freedom. One famous example of this commitment to freedom is the speech delivered by Professor Rudolph Cleveringa in 1940, in which he protested against the threatened dismissal of his Jewish colleagues. Leiden University celebrates this courageous act every year in the form of the Cleveringa lecture in Leiden and Cleveringa meetings held throughout the world. It is freedom that unites us even today. Books on the history of Leiden University The rich history of the University is documented in the series of books Groepsportret met Dame (Group Portrait with a Lady) by Willem Otterspeer, Professor of University History. For each century of the University’s history, Otterspeer explains how the University was founded, how it became established in Leiden and how it has developed as an integral part of society. His book entitled The bastion of liberty is a condensed history of the University. The bastion of liberty Good, Gratifying and Renowned Magna Commoditas (History of the University Library) Film on Four Centuries of Freedom Freedom In the four-part film Four Centuries of Freedom Emeritus Professor Willem Otterspeer presents the highlights in Leiden University's history. The films are inspired by the brief history that Otterspeer wrote about the University to commemorate its 440th anniversary: Good, Gratifying and Renowned. In the films Otterspeer takes the viewer to special locations in Leiden, including the Academy Building, the Pieterskerk, the University Library, the Hortus Botanicus, Minerva and museums such as Boerhaave National Museum for the History of Science and Medicine and the National Museum of Ethnology. Leiden University is a integral part of the community and contributes to a sustainable society. Over the coming years our University will become even greener. Sustainability is a key factor in our societal role, and it is an issue that features strongly not only in the University’s teaching and research but also in its management. We are proud of our good score on the theme of Operational Management in the SustainaBul sustainability ranking. We are working hard to make our education and research even more sustainable. We largely have our students to thank for the fact that Leiden University is becoming greener. Our students play a critical role in how the University views sustainability and they often take the initiative for projects. Leiden University carries out construction and demolition projects as sustainably as possible. By switching to green energy, we make an important contribution to reducing CO2 emissions. Diversity and inclusion are core values of Leiden University. Leiden University is committed to becoming an inclusive community which enables all students and staff to feel valued and respected and to develop their full potential. ...view more