Leiden University is the oldest university in the Netherlands, built in 1575 when the school was gifted to the city by William of Orange. This extraordinary facility brilliantly represents the history and importance of education in Holland. Historic campus buildings are scattered around the city of Leiden which is a typical university town. The architecture in and around the university buildings is a display of the spectacular craftsmanship of earlier days.
The motto of the university is ‘Bastion of Liberty’ which reflects the university philosophy that everyone has freedom of belief, religion and speech. Thus for a relatively small university Leiden has produced some great scholars and scientists of note.
The university has approximately 17 000 students and 4000 staff members. There are six faculties including Education, Archaeology, Humanities, Law, Medicine, Mathematics, Natural Sciences and Behavioral Sciences.