25 June 2026

A code red weather warning will be in force on Friday 26 June due to the exceptional heat.

• All Leiden University buildings in The Hague, including Wijnhaven and University Campus Spui, will remain open for students and staff who wish to work or study there.
• All exams will go ahead.

• The ICT desk in the Wijnhaven building will not be physically staffed, but can be reached by telephone until 13.00 hrs.

Students will be informed via the Education Service Centre.

Good cooling systems
Under our guidelines, code red would normally mean that university buildings would close. However, we do not believe that closing all our buildings is necessary. The more modern buildings in particular have good cooling and ventilation systems, making it possible to continue working and studying there, even in high temperatures.

Of course, this does not apply to all our buildings. In some of the university’s older buildings in particular, staff and students may experience significant discomfort as a result of the heat. This means that a code red weather warning will not automatically lead to the closure of all buildings. Instead, decisions may be taken at decentralised level to close specific buildings in the city of Leiden.

What does this mean for students?
Exams scheduled for Friday at FGGA will go ahead. Large exam halls, such as those at the University Sports Centre, have air conditioning.

We ask students to keep a close eye on their faculty’s webpages. Please contact your study adviser if you have questions about possible closures, exams or other matters. We particularly urge vulnerable students to take extra care. The KNMI website provides advice on how to cope with the heat. If you have any questions, please contact your study adviser.

What does this mean for staff?
We also ask staff to keep a close eye on their faculty’s webpages. We ask vulnerable staff to follow the advice issued by the KNMI. Staff can contact their manager with any questions or concerns.

Finally
The current heatwave means that we all need to remain alert. This includes making sure there is enough drinking water and shade, but we also ask everyone to look out for one another. These days are harder for some people than for others.

Would you like to know more about how best to cope with the current heatwave? Please visit the KNMI website. We urge everyone to follow their advice so that we can get through these days as safely and comfortably as possible.