The new University Library (UB) combines modern study comfort with Amsterdam’s historical heritage. Once a hospital, the building has been completely transformed with input from students. Your fellow students expressed a preference for smaller study areas and a book-filled environment, and this has been reflected in the redesign.

A variety of study areas has been created so that you can always find one that suits your needs for the day: ranging from collaborative areas to study spaces for complete isolation, with plenty of options in between.

Between the lines

The façade of the new Library features a line from Awater by Martinus Nijhoff, translated into the 24 languages taught at the UvA. The hidden line? “Read on, it does not say what it says.” 

Behind this special façade are three floors of study spaces, and the letters of the façade themselves serve as an effective sunshade. A student who visited the Library during a sneak preview said: “It feels wonderful to sit within the letters, as if you’re inside the lines of an old book. It’s truly beautiful.”

The atmosphere of the atrium

In the centre of the building is a large staircase reminiscent of a tree. Study spaces can also be found here. As one student describes it: "The atrium is a bright, spacious place full of air and green accents, as if you’re in a garden or on a square. You can see the roofs of the older buildings, and many historical features have been preserved, such as the brickwork and stone details."

Facilities

The Humanities collection, previously divided between the Singel and the P.C. Hoofthuis, has now been brought together under one roof. On the ground floor, you’ll find an interactive screen that helps you locate the collections within the building. Have you reserved books? In the basement, there is a numbered yellow box with your reservation, ready for you to pick up.

On the ground floor, there is also a cafeteria with glass walls facing the Nieuwe Doelenstraat.

In addition, there is a bicycle parking facility in a modern underground garage, equipped with sensors and offering direct access to the building. You can easily enter with your student card.

Take a look

Discover the impressive building in this 24-second video, captured with a drone for a unique aerial perspective.