Levendaal observatory

Levendaal observatory is the historic Old Observatory building of Leiden University in the Netherlands, sitting in Leiden's botanical gardens as the public face of the world's oldest operating university observatory.

About Levendaal observatory

The building is part of Leiden Observatory, founded in 1633 to house Willebrord Snellius's quadrant, which makes it the oldest operating university observatory in the world. The Old Observatory itself was constructed in 1860 within Leiden's Hortus Botanicus.

History

After a major restoration between 2008 and 2012, the historic building was converted into a visitor centre offering the public access to a working telescope, alongside the exhibitions and lectures still run there today.

Location & getting there

The observatory stands inside Leiden's Hortus Botanicus, the university's historic botanical garden in the centre of the city, and is operated by Leiden University.

Visiting Levendaal observatory

It is open to the public on weekends: from April to October, Saturday and Sunday 10:00-18:00, and from November to March, Saturday and Sunday 10:00-16:00. Wheelchair access is limited, so visitors with mobility needs may want to check ahead.

See your named star from here

Leiden's Old Observatory still offers public telescope viewing, making it a fitting place to try to spot a star you've named. Name a star of your own or look it up in our star catalogue to get its exact coordinates.