Opening of the Academic Year: 'Relentlessly follow your curiosity and see where it takes you'
The opening of the new academic year highlighted students' and lecturers' personal motivators. Incoming students were encouraged to be bold, forge their own paths and grow by trial and error.
To mark the university's 450th anniversary, Acting Vice President of the Executive Board Timo Kos first of all reflected on the university's founding in Leiden's Pieterskerk. He then looked ahead to developments happening in the Netherlands and abroad that pose a threat to academic freedom. ‘Dwindling public confidence in academia, substantial budget cuts, the threat and reality of political interference in education and research, disinformation and polarisation: these are dangerous developments that threaten the continued existence of the university as we know it.’ He emphasised the importance of independent research and teaching in order to retain and attract the most talented individuals for the Netherlands. ‘To do so, however, we need adequate, adequate funding.’
Watch the Opening of the Academic Year 2025 again
The opening ceremony is available in various formats:
Timo Kos also reflected on the discontent, anger and concerns caused by the horrific ongoing violence and human rights violations in the Israel-Hamas war. ‘The political impasse surrounding this issue is also resulting in frustration, tensions and feelings of insecurity within our own community,’ said Mr Kos. 'The university is where we engage in dialogue, even – and especially – when that is difficult.' He called on those present to remain open to other perspectives, be receptive to other opinions and continue the debate while respecting each other's views.
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Charlotte Poot: 'Each of us is walking a winding path, which is full of opportunities, possibilities... and above all, choices.' -
Sebastiaan Grosscurt explained how university lecturers taught him to approach science as a story. -
During the opening ceremony, there was also a focus on the budget cuts to higher education. Tanja de Bie and a colleague handed out red squares to hundreds of visitors. The squares have become an international protest symbol at universities.
Alumni stories
Every Leiden University student's journey is unique and filled with special moments and sources of inspiration. Two young academics took to the stage to talk about how the university and its lecturers has shaped them.
First to speak was Charlotte Poot, a postdoctoral researcher in geriatric care at the LUMC and co-founder of the Hospital Hero app. The app prepares children and parents for a hospital visit by taking them on a safari. She decided early on in her time at the university that she wanted to take in this direction, as she explained in her speech entitled 'Glazen bollen en kronkelpaden' ('Crystal balls and winding paths').
Winding paths
She started out as a biomedical sciences student 15 years ago, but soon realised that conducting research in a laboratory was not for her. It was only after a series of detours and coincidences that she ended up working in a place where all of her interests and knowledge came together. The support and freedom she received from her lecturers and PhD supervisor at the LUMC were invaluable. 'And so, I would like to call on all lecturers and staff at the university today to continue to embrace ideas that emerge from courage, stand alongside those students, show interest, ask questions and give them access to your network. And, most importantly: give them the freedom to explore and discover. A winding path never runs in a straight line, you never see the horizon and you don't know where the final destination will be. Each of us is walking a winding path, which is full of opportunities, possibilities... and above all, choices. [...] To everyone, and especially to all students here today, I want to say this: it's okay not to have a final destination, it's okay to take a winding path, and it's really okay to sometimes simply not know.'
Science as a story
Sebastiaan Grosscurt is a behavioural ecologist, nature educator and journalist. He explained how university lecturers taught him to approach science as a story: ‘Soil scientist Peter Houben took a group of students to the Austrian Alps on his own. In a vast meadow, just below the peak, Dr Houben explained how this landscape was once covered by a thick layer of ice, how the glaciers had shaped it into a mountain range with their mass and movement, how this continues to affect the soil and biodiversity to this day, and how humans – through tourism, grazing and climate change – are writing the landscape's next chapter. He taught me to look at my surroundings differently – not as an object of research that I wanted to flatten with measurements, statistics and graphs, but as living nature. From that moment on, I realised that nature can tell a story.’ Grosscurt encouraged all students to look for those stories: ‘Relentlessly follow your curiosity and see where it takes you. Because you're lucky – a science full of stories awaits you.'
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Hester Bijl: 'Your time as a student is about so much more than obtaining credits.' -
Norman Ebicilio sang the song ‘Baba Yetu’ with musical theatre company Otis. -
Musical theatre company Otis sang ‘Als wij niets doen’ ('If we do nothing') from the musical Soldaat van Oranje ('Soldier of Orange').
The search for identity
Rector Magnificus Hester Bijl addressed first-year students in particular, who are now embarking on a new chapter in their lives. This chapter is often seen as the best time in your life, she said, but it can also be overwhelming – precisely because studying is about more than just acquiring specialist knowledge. 'For young people, this period is often a search for your own identity, as well: who am I, and what do I want?' Those who struggle with stress or doubt are certainly not alone, said Professor Bijl: 'It's all part of the process. Student wellbeing matters to us as a university, and we support you with that where we can.'
Leiden University's teaching and education also offers plenty of freedom for self-development, she continued. For example, through its emphasis on research-based learning, which focuses on curiosity, critical thinking and reflection. There is also a focus on transferable skills, which teach students to deal with the complex world around them. Professor Bijl concluded by calling on the first-year students present to follow their own compass and take ownership of their time at university. ‘Your time as a student is about so much more than obtaining credits. You grow in so many ways, and you are the director of that process.'
Uni-visions
During the opening ceremony, we also looked ahead to 2075. What will our education system look like? And how can we depict that future in an artistic way? That was the challenge set by the university in the spring, through Uni-visions. Hester Bijl introduced the ten Uni-visions finalists and called on the audience to discuss what the university will look like in 50 years' time. Professor Bijl continued: 'With our anniversary theme of "Ahead of the times", we want to look ahead: how can we remain future-proof as a university? To do that, we need innovators, dreamers, thinkers, doers... That's why we're looking for Uni-visionaries.
A video featured the ten entries, from which the audience can select their favourite Uni-visionary. Voting is open until 7 September on the Uni-visions website. The three winners will have the opportunity to realise their creative projects.
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Arjan Louwen (second from left) wins the 2025 Leiden Teaching Prize. -
Jelle de Boer presents the Leiden Teaching Prize to Arjan Louwen. -
Timo Kos officially opens the 2025-2026 academic year. -
Guests at the Opening of the Academic Year.
Leiden Teaching Prize
Next, it was time for the Leiden Teaching Prize. Which lecturer gives students the most inspiration? Jelle de Boer, Chair of the Leiden University Student Platform, first of all praised the three remaining nominees: Italian lecturer Carmen van den Bergh, archaeologist Arjan Louwen and legal scholar Egbert Koops. All of the nominees engage their students exceptionally well and clearly explain complex material. The student jury members attended their lectures after the nominations were announced. They are all top-notch, De Boer emphasised, but there can only be one winner, and that is... 'archaeologist Arjan Louwen!'. De Boer: 'He exuded enthusiasm and passion. This lecturer is hugely committed to his students and effortlessly captivates them in his lectures.' Louwen accepted the award with a beaming smile. He will receive €25,000 to spend on educational innovation and will become a member of the Leiden Teachers' Academy.
In his speech, Louwen dedicated the Teaching Prize to archaeologist David Fontijn, who passed away two years ago. ‘David was my mentor and friend. As a first-generation student, I was overwhelmed by academic life. David gave lectures wearing his Star Wars t-shirt and showed me that it's all about substance, sincerity and passion... and that it's about the person behind the exam.’ For Louwen, teaching is at ‘the core of what we do here at the university’. He continues, ‘It's a privilege to be able to walk alongside young people for a few years of their lives.’
The coming year in The Hague
Finally, Acting Vice President Timo Kos had an announcement to make. In a video with the Mayor of The Hague, Jan van Zanen, he announced that for the first time in Leiden University's history, next year's Opening of the Academic Year will take place in The Hague , in honour of the 25th anniversary of Campus The Hague. Kos: 'You are all cordially invited to attend!'