Sneak preview: from department store to university building
Spui Campus image: Rob Dorresteijn
Just a stone’s throw from Binnenhof, the heart of Dutch politics, Spui Campus will open its doors in early 2026. This involves a dramatic transformation of what was once the V&D department store. Join us for a sneak preview.
A group of more than 30 students and staff in hard hats and sturdy boots gather outside the iconic building in the heart of The Hague. ‘This listed building is from 1930 and was home to the V&D department store for a long time and briefly to Hudson’s Bay’, explains Rogier de Bruin, director of the University Services Department.
The six-storey building covers 20,000 square metres. From 2026, Leiden University will be its main occupant, with the LUMC, Delft University of Technology, the Open University and the Universities of the Netherlands also making use of the space, says De Bruin.
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The building from Grote Marktstraat. The entrance will be around the corner. -
‘Where will our department be?’ Rogier de Bruin (in red helmet) is asked during the tour. -
A lecture hall takes shape. -
Features such as stained-glass windows will be retained. -
The spacious lobby at the main entrance. -
New windows and skylights
‘Watch your step.’ De Bruin issues safety instructions as he leads the group through the former department store, where the renovation is in full swing. There are piles of insulation, pipes and plasterboard as far as the eye can see. In the distance, construction workers saw, drill and paint, while supervisors pore over plans.
On the ground floor – once home to Perry Sport – a new university sports centre is taking shape. The spaces feel open and bright. ‘We’ve installed new windows and skylights to bring in more light’, says De Bruin, standing in a large space that will soon be a lecture hall for 140 students. Teaching staff were consulted on its design. In total, the building will feature 30 lecture halls.
New degree programme
Lecturer Philippe van Gruisen looks around and asks, ‘Will the restaurant be ready in time? And will we and our students be able to grab a coffee here?’ De Bruin assures him they will. As the group moves on, Van Gruisen explains that this is where the new Bachelor’s in Economics and Society that he is coordinating will be based. The building is a welcome addition to the Wijnhaven and Schouwburgstraat buildings, and growing student and staff numbers meant it was urgently needed.
‘All our buildings in The Hague are within a few minutes’ walk of each other’, he adds. ‘When scheduling classes, we look at which site is most suitable so students don’t have to move between sites too much.’
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Political scientists will have a view of the heart of Dutch politics, Binnenhof. -
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The view from the highest rooftop terrace. -
View of Binnenhof
Others on the tour will move into the building in 2026 and are eager for a sneak preview. Among them are staff from the Institute of Political Science, who will be working in both Leiden and The Hague. On the fourth floor, they’re treated to sweeping views of the domes and turrets of Binnenhof. ‘What a fantastic view’, says Robin Buijs, a political science student and student assessor. ‘Very fitting for political scientists to be literally a stone’s throw from Binnenhof.’
When asked about accessibility and sustainability, De Bruin explains that the building meets the latest standards and will be fully wheelchair accessible and built with certified sustainable materials.
Rooftop panorama
The tour ends on the sixth-floor rooftop terrace, offering panoramic views over the rooftops of The Hague and the political centre of the Netherlands. Next to the student common room will be the Universities of the Netherlands. ‘It’s an ideal spot for networking with parliament’, says De Bruijn.
In the run-up to the opening in early 2026, there will be more guided tours for interested students and staff. For more information, get in touch by email at communicatie@cdh.leidenuniv.nl.