Special Rembrandt Route in 2019

Who doesn't know him: the world-famous Dutch painter Rembrandt van Rijn. But did you also know that Rembrandt was a Leiden student? In 2019, Leiden University celebrated its 444th anniversary. In that lustrum year, which was also a Rembrandt year, we made the connection between Rembrandt and Leiden University visible in a spectacular way. Please note: the canvases have been removed at the end of our anniversary and you can no longer see them.

Traces of Rembrandt at Leiden University

Did you know that Rembrandt enrolled as a student of the Arts in 1620? And that he painted the portrait of famous Leiden alumni such as Marten Soolmans, Jan Six and Nicolaes Tulp? In 2019 you could see his paintings displayed on enormous canvases. Learn more about the links between Rembrandt and Leiden University in our Rembrandt dossier. 

Enrolled at Leiden University

Rembrandt was just 13 years old when he enrolled as a student at Leiden University. This was not an unusual age for a university student at the time. His enrolment can be seen in a book dating from 1620 that is now in the University Library. This may well be the first and oldest book to mention Rembrandt.  

Leiden University Libraries hold around 100 prints by Rembrandt, as well as a number of drawings and works by his pupils and assistants. Curator Jef Schaeps is producing a booklet presenting work from Rembrandt’s Leiden period. (Provisional publisher: Leiden University Press.)