Academy Building, Reception building at Rapenburg 73, Leiden, Netherlands
The Academy Building at Rapenburg 73 features traditional academic architecture with a main entrance, two wings, and multiple ceremonial spaces. The interior contains rooms designed for various university functions and gatherings.
The building began as a Dominican nuns' monastery church consecrated in 1516 before becoming the primary location of the Netherlands' first university in 1575. This transformation marked the start of more than 400 years of academic activity at this site.
The building serves as the heart of Leiden University's graduation ceremonies, inaugural lectures, and academic promotions. Visitors can observe how these spaces host the university's most important events.
The reception desk is open Monday to Friday from 8:00 to 19:00 for information, key distribution, and bicycle rentals. The building is centrally located in Leiden and easily accessible on foot.
The building connects directly to the Hortus Botanicus, offering immediate access to one of the world's oldest botanical gardens. Visitors can move seamlessly between the academic architecture and the historic plant collections.
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