De Universiteit Leiden werd opgericht in 1575 en is de oudste universiteit van Nederland. De universiteit telt zes faculteiten, waaraan meer dan 18.000 studenten ingeschreven staan (stand: academisch jaar 2008-2009). De naam van de universiteit was tot 1998 Rijksuniversiteit Leiden (RUL).
Leiden University located in the city of Leiden, is the oldest university in the Netherlands. The university was founded in 1575 by William, Prince of Orange, leader of the Dutch Revolt in the Eighty Years' War. The royal Dutch House of Orange-Nassau and Leiden University still have a close relationship. The Queens Juliana and Beatrix and crown-prince Willem-Alexander studied at Leiden University. In 2005 Queen Beatrix received a rare honorary degree from Leiden University.