Leiden University holds academic year opening in The Hague

Leiden University held its academic year opening ceremony in The Hague on August 31, 2026. This marks the first time in the institution’s 451-year history that the ceremony has been hosted outside of Leiden.

The event celebrates 25 years of partnership between the university and The Hague. The central theme of the program focuses on the impact of artificial intelligence on education and research. The ceremony included a keynote by Junior Minister for the Digital Economy and Sovereignty, Willemijn Aerdts, and a panel discussion involving researchers, lecturers, and students.

A renewed tradition featured a procession of students, professors, and local officials from the Turfmarkt to Amare. This inclusive format marks a return to a tradition that had been absent since 1972.