Leiden University is developing a major new building at Spui, in the heart of The Hague. Set in a former department store, the building will house around 4,000 students and staff from Leiden University, Delft University of Technology, the LUMC and Universities of the Netherlands. It’s expected to open its doors in January 2026.

From department store to university building

The building’s owner, CBRE, is undertaking a large-scale renovation and rebuild to transform the former retail space into a university building. The main entrance, currently on Grote Marktstraat, will move to Spui, and improvements will be made in the form of additional windows, atriums and stairwells.

The aim is for a modern, sustainable space with lots of natural light, transparent design and flexible areas for study and work. The building will feature a university library, teaching spaces, and seminar and lecture rooms. The second-floor restaurant will open onto a terrace, and the sixth floor will also offer outdoor space. There’ll be room for the Beehive fitness and sports centre, and a common room for international students. Next to the main entrance will be access to an underground bike parking facility with room for over 1,300 bicycles.

Working alongside other universities

When it opens in January 2026, the Spui building will support an ambitious interuniversity collaboration. It will house two new large Dutch-taught bachelor’s programmes in The Hague: Economie & Samenleving and Cyber Security & Cyber Crime. Details of other programmes and research institutes in the Spui building will follow. What’s already certain is that both the teaching and research in the building will closely align with The Hague’s profile as an international centre of peace and justice, and with its urban, national and global character.

The Spui building is one of five Leiden University locations in the centres of The Hague, all within easy walking distance of each other.

Grote Markt Climate Deal

Both CBRE (the property owner) and Leiden University have signed up to Climate Deal The Hague – an initiative by Grote Marktstraat and the surrounding area. The aim is to make better use of rooftops to support sustainability in this densely built-up part of the city. Plans for the building’s roof include solar panels, greenery and a rooftop terrace. The climate deal is part of Climate Agreement The Hague.