Bibliotheca Thysiana

In 1653, the Bibliotheca Thysiana was founded by testament by the young Dutch legal expert Johannes Thysius (1622-1653). It is the only Dutch book collection from the seventeenth century housed in the original purpose-built library.

Library collection

The Bibliotheca Thysiana collection contains some 2,500 books and several thousand pamphlets on a great variety of subjects.

Materials can be requested via the Leiden University Libraries catalogue, to be consulted in the Special Collections Reading Room.

Guided visits

The Bibliotheca Thysiana can be visited by appointment. A guided tour of around one hour costs € 125,- for groups of up to 20 people.