Leiden University to open new Student Centre in The Hague
Leiden University will be opening a new Student Centre in The Hague, in the Orion Building at Turfmarkt. The Centre will have room for social and cultural activities, study workplaces and a fitness room for the growing number of students and staff at the Hague Campus.
The number of students at Leiden University in The Hague is growing rapidly: there are now around 4,000 students taking a bachelor's or master's at the Hague Campus. In particular since 2017 when the new Wijnhaven building at Turfmarkt came into use, there has been a need among students for a central meeting place for social activities, but also to study or to do sports. The new The Hague Student Centre is intended to meet this need.
The Hague Student Centre will be located in the lower four floors of the Orion Building at Turfmarkt 104. The University will rent this part of the building and will make it into a multifunctional facility for students and staff, providing space for social and cultural activities for and by students, study workplaces and a fitness room. Offices will be available for student organisations and for different support services for students, such as an ombudsperson, an international student counsellor and a student psychologist. There will also be a common room for international students.
The municipality of The Hague is contributing two million euros to the formation of the Student Centre. Councillor Saskia Bruines comments, 'The Hague is increasingly becoming a student city, which means we need to invest in space and facilities. As yet, The Hague does not have a Student Centre, and in a true student city that's not sustainable.'
The Student Centre is expected to open in the summer of 2018. People living close to the Orion Building will be informed about the construction work and the refurbishment of the building.
The University can discuss with the municipality allowing access to other groups of users than students.The Student Centre will contribute to improving the living environment for students in the city.