The Bibliotheca Thysiana in Leiden was founded in 1653 by the young Dutch jurist Johannes Thysius. It is the only Dutch book collection from the seventeenth century which is housed in the original purpose-built library. The collection contains some 2500 books and several thousand pamphlets on a great variety of subjects concerning science.
The Bibliotheca Thysiana is perhaps the most splendid example in Leiden of Dutch classicist architecture, a style heavily influenced by 16th-century Italian models.
The library can be visited by appointment against payment.
The Bibliotheca Thysiana can be visited by appointment and against payment. A guided tour of ca. an hour costs € 125 for groups up to 20 persons. The Elsevier Room on the ground flour is available for meetings and receptions at a cost of € 150 per session (morning/afternoon; supervision and additional costs not included). Further information can be obtained from the Special Collections Department: specialcollections@library.leidenuniv.nl or +31 (0)71 5272857
Visitors about the Bibliotheca Thysiana