Visitor Center
The Old Observatory is located on the grounds of the Hortus. This is the oldest surviving university observatory in the world. Since 1633, the University of Leiden has used the various rooms for the education of students. The Visitor Center on the ground floor of the Old Observatory is part of the Hortus and the Institute Observatory.
The Hortus and Leiden Observatory are collaborating on programs for the Visitor Center. From February 7, 2025, the Visitor Center will host the multi-year exhibition "Plants & Planets," a new presentation where you can marvel at what science, art, and nature can tell us about the origins of life.
Activities
The Visitor Center is currently closed for construction of the new Plants & Planets exhibit. There will be no walk-in tours during this closure. Beginning February 7, we will resume guided tours at scheduled times Wednesday through Sunday. During a guided tour, an astronomy student will take you to one of the oldest telescopes in the Netherlands and explain more about the exhibition.
The tour lasts approximately one hour.
When do the tours take place?
You can join a guided tour from 7 February. Keep an eye on the Hortus agenda to stay informed.
What language will the tours be in?
The tours are usually in Dutch, unless (part of) the group does not speak Dutch. In this case the tour will be in English. If there are Dutch visitors in the group who do not understand English, the tour will be given partly in Dutch and partly in English. Our guides are very flexible in this regard, so please let us know your preferences.
Where should I be?
The tour starts on the square in front of the Old Observatory. Are you already at the Hortus Botanicus? If so, please report to the reception of the Old Observatory 10 minutes before the tour starts. You'll find the entrance at the end of the garden. The tour guide will pick people up there before meeting them at the official starting point.
