Student Guide Leiden Law School 2023

Student Guide

Discover the world at Leiden University

Welcome to Leiden Law School!

Studying at Leiden University will come with many, exciting changes. Whether you will be joining us in Leiden or The Hague: this guide will provide you with practical information and cultural context for the programme that you will be following.

Please do not hesitate to contact your programme coordinator or exchange coordinator should you have any questions. We wish you a successful and enjoyable time studying with us!

The Office for International Education

Leiden Law School

Postal address:

Leiden Law School

PO Box 9520 2300 RA Leiden

Tel: +31-71 527 7512

Visiting addresses:

• Kamerlingh Onnes Gebouw/Building - Steenschuur 25, 2311 ES Leiden

• Sterrewacht/Observatory - Kaiserstraat 63, 2311 GP Leiden

• Wijnhaven Building - Turfmarkt 99, 2511 DP Den Haag

Student website

Founded in 1575, Leiden University is the oldest university in the Netherlands. It was the first Dutch university where freedom of belief and religion was practiced, which is reflected in the university’s motto ‘Praesidium Libertatis’, Bastion of Liberty. It was in this atmosphere of openness and free thinking that philosophers like Spinoza and Descartes were able to develop their ideas.

unique network of mentors. Our alumni include members of the Dutch Supreme Court, of international courts, a former Secretary General of NATO, a member of the House of Representatives, prominent lawyers worldwide, and chief executives of multinational companies.

The university’s tradition in law dates back to the time of Hugo Grotius. Often referred to as the ‘Mozart of International Law’, Grotius started his studies at Leiden University in 1594 at the age of 11.

During its history Leiden Law School has continuously managed to build upon its reputation for excellence by combining a high level of academic teaching with acclaimed and innovative research. The Law School has an eminent reputation in the training of lawyers and diplomats. Students of Leiden Law School have access to a large and

Leiden Law School is housed in two beautifully renovated buildings (Kamerlingh Onnes Gebouw and Sterrewacht/ Observatory) in the historic heart of Leiden. Leiden Law School also has also facilities for teaching at the campus in The Hague. In The Hague, the Grotius Centre for International Legal Studies works closely with courts of justice in The Hague and international organisations.

The incoming exchange coordinator at the Office for International Education will be your first point of personal contact before, during and after your exchange period with us. She can help you with all kinds of questions and sign (Erasmus)forms related to your exchange.

Kaiserstraat 25, ground floor

2311 GN LEIDEN

+31 (0)71-527 8011

Mon, Wed, Thu, Fri : 11:00-16:00

Tue, 11:00 – 17:30

Your main point of contact for administrative matters with regards to your programme is the Education Service Centre (Onderwijs Informatie Centrum/OIC in Dutch). You may also contact your programme coordinator for academic questions related to your programme.

If you have any legal questions, for example questions about whether you are eligible for a rental allowance you may contact Leidse rechtswinkel (via the website students can make an appointment) for Leiden/JIP (general walk in hours: Monday to Friday from 13:00 – 17:00 at the Amsterdamse Veerkade in Den Haag)

The programme coordinator is your first point of personal contact before, during and after your studies. Your coordinator can help you with all kinds of practical (programme related) questions and can refer you to someone else if necessary.

During your time as a student you will probably encounter a variety of challenges. Both in terms of studying and personal development, you might need a little help from time to time. Find out how you can boost your well-being and who you can turn to for support:

Student well-being - Leiden University (universiteitleiden.nl)

The front office student affairs is your first port of call for all kinds of information not related to the content of your study programme, for example:

• Registration and de-registration at Leiden University

• LU cards

• Student counsellors

• Problems with ULCN accounts etc.

Leiden Law School has a career advisor, Mrs Annemarie Schreurs Bedaux. She can help you with individual career advice.

a.p.schreurs@law.leidenuniv.nl

Please also check: Leiden University Career Zone lucareerzone.com

takes place in context of professional activities or study activities, and that which takes place outside these contexts.

It is key, for lecturers and students alike, to demonstrate proper behavior and treat one another in a respectful manner at all times. Be respectful of differences relating to ethnic or national origins, religious convictions, gender, sexual preferences and handicaps. Lecturers and students will also refrain from any undesirable behavior, in particular (sexual) harassment, aggression, violence and discrimination. Inappropriate behavior will be disciplined accordingly.

The Ombuds officer is a confidential and independent officer of Leiden University who deals with complaints from students. Most complaints relate to the service provided by staff of faculties or central services. Generally this concerns a matter of inadequate information, communication or unsatisfactory treatment in the relation between students and employees of the Leiden University.

Mr. E.A.J. van der Heijden – Ombuds Officer ombudsfunctionaris@leidenuniv.nl

+31 (0)71 527 3657

The Code of Conduct is applied by Leiden University in the context of providing a safe and non-discriminatory work and study environment. The Code of Conduct applies to all contact between lecturers and students of Leiden university, both the contact which

If you are experiencing undesirable behavior, such as the above mentioned, you can turn to the confidential counsellor

The University Sports Centre (USC) offers all the facilities you could wish for. Please visit the USC’ website for detailed explanation on how the membership works and all the things you can do with your membership (for example make use of the fitness room at Plexus).

University Sports Centre:

Einsteinweg 6

2333 CC Leiden

+31 (0)71 527 4610

sportcentrum@usc.leidenuniv.nl

uscleiden.com (opening hours)

The Netherlands is often called Holland. This is not officially correct as Holland refers to two provinces of the Netherlands, NoordHolland and Zuid-Holland (Leiden is in Zuid-Holland). You may however do so as the Dutch often do it themselves! The Netherlands itself is quite small. By train it only takes 4 hours to travel from north to south and 2 hours from east to west. To the east the Netherlands borders Germany, to the south Belgium, and to the north and west, the North Sea.

Although the Netherlands are not especially known for beautiful landscape, it has a lot to offer. The Netherlands is extremely flat but we have beautiful forests, dunes, and moor lands. We also have the “Waddenzee” in the north of the Netherlands. There you can walk over a muddy seabed. This is truly beautiful and provides a good nature walk. The Dutch islands in the North Sea are also worth visiting. Water plays a big role in the Netherlands as it surrounds us and is a constant threat. It has also been a great life source to the Netherlands, as this is a country of trade. It also supplies water for the fields where millions of cows graze.

The Netherlands is a densely populated country. About 17 million people live in an area of some 41,500 km2. This means an average density of 480 people per km2. This is indeed just an average if you realise that 60 per cent of the population lives in an area that covers one-sixth of the country. This is the West Holland conurbation known as the “Randstad”, which is defined by drawing a line

connecting Amsterdam, The Hague, Rotterdam and Utrecht. The Randstad has a density of more than 1000 people per km2. Leiden lies between Amsterdam and The Hague and is a part of the Randstad.

The Netherlands have culture, and lots of it. There are many beautiful cities and villages. There are also many great museums, theatres, artgalleries etc.

Read more about The Netherlands here: holland.com/global/tourism/information.htm

Leiden is a city with a great history. The buildings are still here to show it. For instance have a look at the Academy building of the University, or the Gravensteen, the Weighing House and the many houses on the Rapenburg. There are also the two beautiful churches in the centre: The Pieterskerk and the Hooglandse kerk. The 35 Almshouses also tell a history of its own as does the Burcht. History is also found in the Hortus Botanicus where Clusius brought the first tulips to flower and in the fact that 400 years ago Holland’s oldest university of Leiden was founded. Rembrandt spend years painting in Leiden and was born here on the 15th of July 1606 in a pharmacy in the street called “Weddesteeg”.

From 1614 to 1620 he attended the Latin School on the back side of the “Gravensteen” in Leiden. Other famous painters from the “Leiden School” are Lucas van Leyden and Jan Steen.

The street plan of Leiden has hardly changed since the 17th century. All the members of the Dutch Royal Family who are destined to ascend the throne one day studied at the University of Leiden. William of Orange granted Leiden the right to found a university. The University of Leiden is the oldest in the Netherlands. This was meant as a token of gratitude for the resistance of the people of Leiden against the Spanish repression in the 1570’s. The city outlasted the siege by the Spanish army until the Dutch rebels (watergeuzen) set Leiden free on the 3rd of October 1574. The rebels fed the starving population with white bread and herring. This event is still commemorated on each 3rd of October, when the inhabitants of Leiden eat the same food as their ancestors in 1574. Another of the traditional food supplements eaten on that day is a kind of “carrot stew”. Legend has it that, when the Spanish fled, all that was left in the city was a casserole with carrot stew.

Leiden is not only a beautiful city; it is also a cultural city. The best way to see it is by simply walking and looking around. Around the corner you may find a beautiful ‘hofje’, which is a little courtyard, or a lively pub. For more information, please go to visitleiden.nl.

There is plenty of culture in Leiden. The city has a huge variety of museums, most of them in walking distance of each other. Leiden is also home to the oldest theatre in the Netherlands, the Leidse Schouwburg. In Leiden you can definitely find all that you need. Most clothing shops can be found on the Haarlemmerstraat. You can also find some clothing shops, many stationary shops and bookshops on the Breestraat. Some nice home stores can be found on the Nieuwe Rijn.

Every Wednesday and Saturday from 08:00-17:00 you can buy fresh vegetables, fresh fruit, fish, olives and sun dried tomatoes and many other fresh food as well as clothes and many other things. This market has existed for nine centuries. It can be found in the centre by the water of the Botermarkt and the Nieuwe Rijn.

There are many supermarkets in the centre of Leiden such as Albert Heijn (AH), Hoogvliet, Jumbo and Aldi.

General Openings hours:

Most shops in Leiden have the following opening hours (supermarkets usually have longer opening hours):

Monday 13:00-18:00

Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday 09:00-18:00

Thursday 09:00-21:00

Saturday 09:00-17:00

Sunday Most shops will be open, smaller shops may be closed.

Leiden has a wide range of restaurants, cafés and bars. All types of cuisine can be found here, from traditional Dutch to diverse international dishes in every price range.

Leiden is a student city. This means there is a lot to do in the evenings.

There is also plenty to do in Leiden throughout the whole year. There are various annual events. For example, King’s Day, which celebrates the birthday of the King (27th April) and a special day in Leiden: Leidens Ontzet (The Relief of Leiden) on 3rd October.

The Hague is one of the most extraordinary cities in Holland. Not just because it is our government city, but also because of its many monuments, historic districts and its location near the beautiful North Sea coastline. The Hague is also known as ‘ The International City of Peace and Justice’ and ‘the Royal City by the Sea.’

King Willem Alexander of the Netherlands lives and works in The Hague. All foreign embassies and government ministries are located in the city, as well as the Hoge Raad der Nederlanden (The Supreme Court), the Raad van State (Council of State) and many international organisations and courts.

The Hague (Den Haag, also ‘s-Gravenhage) is the third city in the Netherlands after Amsterdam and Rotterdam, with a population of about 532,000. The city is located in the west of the Netherlands, in the province of South Holland.

The Hague was founded in 1248 by William II, Count of Holland. The city is called in Dutch “Den Haag”, and is officially also called “’s-Gravenhage” (literally “The Count’s Hedge”).

The Hague is the home of the Eerste Kamer (first chamber) and the Tweede Kamer (second chamber), respectively the upper and lower houses forming the Staten Generaal (literally the “Estates-General”).

With the most historic sites per square meter in the Netherlands, The Hague oozes culture and history. This city has a prominent place in both Europe and the world. Visit The Hague monuments such as the Binnenhof, Noordeinde Palace, and the Peace Palace. Discover Holland’s highlights and heritage in miniature at Madurodam. For more information, also about special events, festivals, museums, concerts, nightlife, the beach and much more, please visit: denhaag.com/en/attractions

The Hague is home to a number of upmarket boutiques, designer shops and excellent art and antique shops. You’ll find most of the global fashion stores lining the network of pedestrianised streets of Spuistraat, Vlamingstraat and Venestraat, and in the Babylon shopping centre. The Haagsche Bluf shopping centre (located between Venestraat,Vlamingstraat and Nieuwstraat) encompasses more upmarket stores, cafés and beauty salons. Smaller, more quirky and lavish boutiques, interior design stores, antique shops and delicatessens are found along Oude Molstraat and Noordeinde as well as Denneweg, Frederikstraat and Javastraat (three streets collectively known as Buurtschap 2005). The Passage is Holland’s oldest “mall”, an elegant covered arcade dating back to 1882 comprising chic boutiques and cafés.

The Hague Market (‘De Haagse Markt’) is one of the largest multicultural markets in Europe. Antiques, foreign, modern, inexpensive, unique: it’s all there at The Hague Market. The merchandise here reflects the multicultural population of the city. Walk through the food area where Dutch cauliflower is amiably on display beside fresh coriandar, baklava, sharon fruit, fresh fish and yardlong beans. Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat from 09:00 – 17:00, Herman Costerstraat.

The Hague has a wide range of restaurants, cafes and bars. All types of cuisine can be found here, from traditional Dutch to diverse international dishes in every price range. If you like fish, aim for the restaurants in the harbour of Scheveningen (such as Simonis) for excellent fish.

There is always plenty to do in The Hague throughout the whole year. There are various annual events. For example, King’s Day, which celebrates the birthday of the King (27th April) and a special day in The Hague: Prinsjesdag (his Majesty the King reads the Speech from the Throne that outlines the government policy for the year ahead) on the 3rd Tuesday in September where you also get to see the Golden Coach.

There are many supermarkets in the centre of The Hague (mainly Albert Heijn, but also Ekoplaza, Jumbo and Spar).

General opening hours:

Most shops have the following opening hours (bigger department stores and supermarkets usually have longer opening hours):

Monday 11:00-18:00

Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday 10:00-18:00

Thursday 10:00-21:00

Saturday 10:00-18:00

Sunday 10:00-18:00

9

Hallo, hoi – Hello

Dag, doei – Goodbye (friendly)

Tot ziens – Goodbye (formal)

Ja – yes

Nee – no

Prima – Alright! Let’s do it

Patat met… - chips/fries with… (mayonnaise, ketchup, etc.)

Gezondheid – Bless you (when sneezing or coughing)

Gefeliciteerd – Congratulations

Proost! – Cheers

Veel success – Good luck

Gezellig – Fun, nice, cosy; used to describe a good time with good company in nice surroundings

Leuk – Nice, like ‘oh nice’

Fijn – Fine, good

Dankjewel / Bedankt – Thank you

Bonnetje? – Receipt (would you like the receipt?)

Lekker – Yum, tasty, delicious, good looking, nice, used to describe food, weather, people, objects, essentially everything on the planet…

Mooi – pretty, good

Alsjeblieft / Alstublieft (formal) – Please, and also here you are/you’re welcome

Beterschap – Hope you get well soon

General Emergency number: 112 (ambulance, fire service, police)

If you need to contact the police but it is not an emergency you can call 0900 – 8844.

Hopefully it won’t be necessary, but if you should need medical assistance whilst living and studying in Leiden you can find the necessary contact information on our website: Healthcare and insurances - Leiden University (universiteitleiden.nl)

Buying a bike is a great idea, because it is a very common mode of transport in the Netherlands. There are a few bike shops around and keep your eyes open in second-hand shops. Buying a stolen bike is illegal and this can get you into trouble. A second-hand bike does not have to be expensive. A word of advice: cheap bike and an expensive lock – then your bike will not be stolen.

Don’t forget: buy bike lights! You will be fined if you are found to be cycling in the dark without lights. There is no need to go to a bike shop for buying lights since you can easily find them in inexpensive department stores, such as Hema and Action.

You may also want to consider renting a bike through Swapfiets (Swapbike), a private lease concept for bicycles, available in Leiden and The Hague.

For those of you who are not used to bikes or complicated traffic situations where bikes, cars, scooters, and buses make use of the same streets: please be careful! Sometimes there are special lanes for bikes (with pink/red asphalt and separated from the main road by thick white lines).

A special note for those coming from countries where people drive on the left, such as Great Britain, Australia and India: in The Netherlands we drive on the right instead of on the left. Therefore pay special attention when crossing the road.

When taking the public transport, purchasing an OV-Chip Card (‘OV-Chipkaart’) will be very useful. The OV-Chip Card is the public transport smartcard, a ticket for all public transport in the Netherlands. This card allows you to travel on the train, tram, bus and metro. In order to travel, you will need to load credit onto the card or use a travel product, such as a season ticket for commuting. You can also use it as an e-purse (travelling on pre-paid credit). Don’t forget to check in when entering and check out when exiting. Not checking in or out can result in a fine.

For more information about the OV-Chip Card, go to ov-chipkaart.nl.

To plan your travel by public transport, plan your journey online at 9292.nl. If you will be taking the train, ns.nl has the most up to date information. You can change the language from these pages.