Campus The Hague expands into Central Innovation District in The Hague
Leiden University’s Campus the Hague is soon to expand into the Central Innovation District in the centre of The Hague. Plans are under way for a Campus boulevard with a new University building in the area between the Prins Bernhardviaduct and Schedeldoekshaven.
The letter of intent confirming the plan was signed on 6 November by Anne Mulder, Councillor for Urban Development, and Martijn Ridderbos, Deputy Chairman of the Executive Board of Leiden University. Both signatories emphasised the importance of this development for the University and for the city. Councillor Mulder commented, ‘I am delighted with the plans for expanding Leiden University in The Hague. The presence of the University gives The Hague’s knowledge economy and work opportunities an extra impetus, and attracts highly educated young people to the city. That means a boost not only for economic activity but also for the vitality of the whole region.’
Research and education in the political and administrative heart of the city
Deputy Chairman Martijn Ridderbos also sees many advantages for the University: ‘We are very keen to work with the city authorities to expand our University even further in The Hague. As the City of Peace, Justice and Security, and with its strong metropolitan character, The Hague offers a wealth of opportunities for research and education. The city is the political and administrative heart of the Netherlands and is also home to many international organisations.’
Campus boulevard
The Campus boulevard will be located between the Prins Bernhard viaduct and Schedeldoekshaven, close to Central Station. It will be a place for students, staff and residents of The Hague to come together. The area is currently still under development, but will shortly offer not only homes, businesses and knowledge institutions, but also pedestrianised green outdoor spaces for people to enjoy. The boulevard builds further on the Policy Campus, the area around Central Station, where many government departments and the National Library of the Netherlands are located.
New University building
The new University premises on the Campus boulevard are part of the plans for Campus The Hague. The University and the municipality of The Hague believe firmly in the importance of openness and accessibility, which makes the neighbourhood of the station an ideal location for the Central Innovation District (CID). For the municipality, the expansion of Campus The Hague provides further opportunities for government, knowledge institutions and the business community to join forces. A few months ago, the municipality presented its draft structural vision for CID 2040. The expansion of Leiden University in The Hague is key to the municipality's spatial policy, vision and ambitions for this area.
Campus the Hague’s strong growth
In the space of twenty years, Campus The Hague has grown from just a handful of staff to a fully fledged University location with over 500 staff, 18 bachelor’s and master’s programmes and more than 6,000 students. This expansion is an integral part of the ambitions of Leiden University and the local region.