Kamerlingh Onnes Building

This building connects two important moments from the history of Leiden. In January 1807, a moored ship carrying blackpowder exploded here. The explosion wiped away 218 houses on both sides of the canal. New buildings were not built. In that time, things went badly with Leiden: the city had only 31.000 citizens, buildings stood empty, were wrecked or concealed. After the terrain laid bare for half a century, here on the 'Small Ruin' arose a Physics, Chemical, Anatomical and Physiological Laboratory, designed by architect H.F.G.N. Camp. The building carries the name of the physicist and Nobel prize winner Heike Kamerlingh Onnes (1853-1926). 100 years ago, he succeeded in making the noble gas of helium liquid at a temperature of -269° Celsius, just above absolute zero. This is where the building's nickname comes from 'the coldest place on Earth'. Together with his colleague and friend Hendrik Lorentz (1853-1928, likewise a winner of the Nobel prize) built Kamerlingh Onnes the laboratory to one of the most advanced in all of Europe. World-famous scientists like Marie Curie (1867-1934), who discovered radium, among other things, and the theoretic phycisist Albert Einstein (1879-1955), known mostly for his theory of relativity, conducted research here. From 1920 to 1940, Einstein was connected to the University of Leiden as an Endowed Professor; in 1921 he also received the Nobel prize. The building is also symbolic for a period of growth of the Leiden University.

The original building with the neo-classical facade has been expanded and extensively rebuilt throughout the years. The latest renovation took place in 2001-2004, when the building was made suitable for housing the Faculty of Law, including its library and student accommodations. Another important section to note, is the old theatre-shaped college hall in neo-classical style on the first floor.