About AOI 2025

Thursday June 19, 2025 - Rijksmuseum Boerhaave

Friday June 20, and Saturday June 21, 2025 - Academy Building of Leiden University

The Academy Building is the oldest University building in Leiden, dating back to 1581. Today it is mainly used for ceremonies such as graduations, inaugural lectures and promotions. The Sweat Room is a room in the Academy Building. It is a Leiden tradition for graduates to sign or write their name on the walls of this room following their grad-uation ceremony. Originally, this room was used as a meeting room for the curators. Later, the room was used as a storage place for peat for the stoves of the university. It then served as a sort of second Senate chamber for conducting exams. It was not until the eighteenth century that the room became the guard room from which it now owes its name. It is not known who put his first signature on the walls of the room while wait-ing for the exam, nor is it known when that was. This first signature was the beginning of a long tradition, although the signature is now only placed after graduation. Well-known Leiden alumni who have put their name in the room are the Queens Beatrix and Juliana, King Willem-Alexander and Erik Hazelhoff Roelfzema, the Soldier of Orange. In addition, the signatures of prominent figures such as Queen Wilhelmina, Winston Churchill and Nelson Mandela can be read on the walls of the Sweat Room, because they have received a Leiden honorary doctorate.