History

Leiden has a long tradition in attracting world-class scientists since the 17th century. Nowadays, several research institutes and companies at the Leiden Bio Science Park perform at an international high level in the field of biomedical and genetic research.

Leiden University

Leiden University was founded in 1575 and is the oldest in the Netherlands. Over the centuries, great scholars have lectured and carried out their research there. For example, the illustrious Dutch professor of medicine, botany and chemistry, Herman Boerhaave (1668-1738), was the first academic in Europe to emphasize the importance of natural science in the study of medicine.

Boerhaave

Distinguished scientists

Four professors received the Nobel Prize for their research at Leiden University: Kamerlingh Onnes for physics, Hendrik Antoon Lorentz and Pieter Zeeman for their work on optical and electronic phenomena, and the physiologist Willem Einthoven for his invention of the string galvanometer which enabled the development of electrocardiography.
In addition, the physicists Albert Einstein and Paul Ehrenfest are among those who have propelled the university into a position of international prominence.

Leiden University is now reputed to be among the best in many fields, including life science (the so-called Red Biotech), medicine, pharmacology, cell biology and chemistry, astronomy and non-western languages.

Leiden Bio Science Park

The Leiden Bio Science Park was established in 1984 next to the Leiden University faculty of Science and the Leiden University Medical Center (LUMC). The City Council later dedicated this part of the city to life science, which allowed it to develop over 25 years into the largest life science business park in the Netherlands, now boasting more than 50 life science companies.