Venue
The Kroese-Duijsters symposium will be held in the heart of the Leiden city centre.
Academy Building
The Academy Building situated on the Rapenburg is the oldest Leiden University building. The institution has owned the building since 1581 and it is in use for ceremonies such as graduations, inaugural lectures and PhD defences. The building was constructed in 1516 and was originally a church of the Dominician or ‘White’ nuns. The Academy Building has been renovated several times over the course of the years.
The ‘Sweat Room’ is perhaps the most famous small chamber in the building. Once they have received their diploma, students can immortalise their names by adding their signature to the thousands already on the walls of the chamber. In much earlier times, this was the room where students anxiously awaited the results of their final exam; this is what gives it its name.
The Academy Building accommodates the permanent exhibition of the Academic Historical Museum. The exhibition is only open to the public on Heritage Day (“Open Monumentendag”).
Travel
Leiden is only 20 minutes by train from the main international airport of the Netherlands ‘Schiphol Amsterdam International Airport’. But you can also fly in to Leiden from Rotterdam Airport, or travel by high-speed international train to either Rotterdam or Amsterdam and then transfer.
From Schiphol Amsterdam Airport: take a direct train to Leiden Centraal Station. Train tickets for domestic travel are available from the yellow ticket machines near the platforms at Schiphol Plaza. Tickets (for domestic and international travel) are also available from the ticket offices, which are situated close to the red/white-checked cube at Schiphol Plaza. Staff at the ticket offices will also be able to provide you with train departure information.
From Rotterdam Airport: take a bus from Rotterdam Airport to Rotterdam Centraal Station. Buses depart frequently and takes about 20 minutes. From Rotterdam Centraal Station it will take you about 30-40 minutes to travel to Leiden Centraal Station.
From Eindhoven Airport it will take you 2-3 hours on average to get to Leiden.
By train
Leiden’s railway station connects Leiden directly with other major Dutch cities (Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht, The Hague and Groningen). Buses and taxis depart from directly outside of Leiden station. The Leiden Visitor Centre is opposite Leiden Centraal Station and they can provide tourists to Leiden with further directions. Train times can be found on www.9292ov.nl
By car
Leiden is easily accessible via the Dutch highways A4 (Amsterdam – The Hague) and A44 (Amsterdam – Delft).
By bus
The main provider of bus services in and around Leiden is Connexxion.