The Hague will host Leiden University’s Opening of the Academic Year, today, Monday 31 August 2026. It is the first time in the university’s 451-year history that the ceremony takes place outside Leiden. The event also marks 25 years of partnership between the university and the city.
The afternoon’s central theme is the impact of artificial intelligence on education. The programme opens with a keynote by Junior Minister for the Digital Economy and Sovereignty, Willemijn Aerdts, followed by a panel discussion chaired by Bas Haring with researchers, lecturers and students from various faculties. The panel explores the opportunities, dilemmas and complexities AI presents for education and research.
Before the ceremony, a procession of students, professors, lecturers, aldermen, speakers, guests, and the mayors of Leiden and The Hague will make its way from the Turfmarkt to Amare. The procession returns to the Opening of the Academic Year for the first time since 1972. The tradition ended when all parts of the university began to participate in university governance on an equal basis, and visible distinctions were removed from the ceremony. This year, the tradition returns in a renewed and more inclusive form. Professors will walk alongside guests of their choosing, reflecting Leiden University’s close-knit and diverse community.
“For 25 years, Leiden University and The Hague have grown together. Today, around 6,000 of their 30,000 students study in The Hague, making our city a second home for the university. Hosting the Opening of the Academic Year here for the first time is a fitting celebration of that partnership.” Jan van Zanen, Mayor of The Hague
All seven faculties are now represented in the city, with education and research aligned to The Hague’s identity as the national seat of government and an international centre of peace, justice and security. Read the full article: https://thehague.com/newsroom/
To follow the live stream of the event: https://www.
Source & Image: The Hague & Partners
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