Schilperoort Park

Leiden University and the Municipality of Leiden worked together on the development of the Schilperoort Park. This new public space is situated in the north-eastern part of the Leiden Bio Science Park. The park ambience is extended into the adjacent residential area, where former medical laboratories were transformed into housing.

Artist’s impression of the lake by the Pathology Building.

Latest developments

The pavement of the Verhaartpad has been replaced. The pond as well as the park are finished. The other streets in the residential area are also completed. The bike path near the Hogeschool is finalized too.

The area between the residential buildings has cycle and pedestrian paths and the same park ambience.

A park for everybody

Schilperoort Park is a park for young and old. It is situated on the Leiden Bio Science Park, between Wassenaarseweg to the north of the Bio Science Park and Poelweteringpad to the south of the Pathology Building. The redevelopment of the public space between three neighbouring apartment blocks and a University building to create more green was also part of the project. The greenery extends to this area, thus giving it an attractive park ambience. There will parking spaces in the green spaces instead of in a separate car park.

The Schilperoort Park creates a link between the Van Bosman Woods to the north and the Van Leeuwenhoek Park to the south, and on the Bio Science Park itself. Although the park is part of the Bio Science Park, it has its own identity with the right vegetation for the soil in the area. The design is based on three atmospheres:

Intimate: hilly, woody vegetation
Open: grass field for sport and games
Relaxed: lake with a large deck alongside a catering facility in the Pathology Building.

Schedule

The redevelopment of the area was completed in december 2019. The area between the apartment complexes was tackled first. Underground waste containers were installed here.

Once the area had been redeveloped, the University transfered it to the Municipality of Leiden.

The Schilperoort Park is named after Professor Rob Schilperoort (1938-2012), founder of the Leiden Bio Science Park (1984). Schilperoort was a lecturer and professor of Biochemistry at Leiden University from 1978 to 2000. Once the park is complete, a piece of art will be installed to commemorate him.

Background information

The apartment buildings adjacent to the Schilperoort Park largely comprise former labs of the Academic Hospital Leiden. State architect J.A.W. Vrijman drew the plans for the labs, which were christened the Cité Médicale: the Faculty of Medicine. At the end of the 20th century Cité Médicale made way for the LUMC. Only the Poort building opposite the hospital and three labs remain:

Physiology (1959): this building now bears the name ‘Willem Einthoven’
Pathology (1929): now a residential building
Anatomy (1929): also converted into a residential building

There are three new tower blocks on Wassenaarseweg. These ‘Clusius Towers’ are named after the Clusius Laboratory (1969, biochemistry) that once stood here.