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
From Wednesday to Sunday, the Old Observatory offers walk-in tours at fixed times. During the walk-in tour, an astronomy student will take you to one of the oldest telescopes in the Netherlands, located in one of the domes right next to the main building of the Old Observatory. You will discover more about the rich history of astronomy in Leiden and will receive more information about the Plants & Planets exhibition. Do you want to see the Observatory's main building and visit the rooftop telescopes? Check out our private tours!
The walk-in tour lasts about one hour.
Where should I be?
The guided tour starts on the square in front of the Old Observatory. Are you already in the Hortus botanicus? Then make sure you report to the desk of the Old Observatory visitor centre 10 minutes before the start of the tour. The tour guide will first collect people there before gathering at the official starting point.
When do the tours take place?
From Wednesday to Sunday the walk-in tours are offered at the following moments:
• 13.30-14.30 (Dutch)
• 15.00-16.00 (English)
