The city of nobel prizes
Leiden breathes physics. In and around the Kamerlingh Onnes Building on the Steenschuur, world-class scientists worked on groundbreaking discoveries. No other place in the world has so many Nobel prize winners in such a small area. Their legacy lives on in the city, education and science of today.
Where science writes history and the future
-
Nobel prizes on the square metre
The Kamerlingh Onnes Building is unique worldwide: in no other place are so many Nobel prize winners linked to one location. Leiden physicists such as Lorentz, Zeeman, Kamerlingh Onnes and Van der Waals did pioneering work that helped shape modern physics. Their discoveries, from electromagnetism to liquid helium, are among the foundations of the discipline. This impressive concentration of scientific excellence makes the building a scientific icon.
-
The influence of the Kamerlingh Onnes Building
More than a historic building, the KOG is a symbol of international science. For decades, it provided space for groundbreaking research and cooperation between leading physicists. Not only knowledge was developed here, but also a culture of precision, experiment and interdisciplinary exchange. To this day, the building is the heart of physics education and research in Leiden.
-
The vibrant legacy of Leiden physics
Leiden physics is alive and kicking. From the same tradition, researchers today work on topics such as astrophysics, quantum mechanics and sustainability. This scientific line is visible in the success of young talents, such as astronomer Sebastiaan Haffert, who recently received the New Horizons in Physics Prize. In this way, Leiden shows that it has not only made history, but is also actively contributing to the future of physics.