“Good to see you,” says Vice-Rector Erwin Muller of Leiden University Campus The Hague to entrepreneur Anil Soekhoe. “Our history goes back a long way.” Soekhoe, known for the quintessentially Hague chocolate heaven Hop & Stork in the Passage, explains: “We’ve both been members of The Hague Economic Board for years, where we meet with the municipality and other stakeholders to discuss how we can strengthen The Hague together.”

A case of “practice what you preach,” one might say, as the two sit down to discuss the collaboration between the university and the restaurateur at the new Campus location on the Spui. When the fully redeveloped building opens in January 2026, the ovens and coffee grinders at Soekhoe’s new concept, Brew & Bake, will immediately be in full swing.

Urban scale

First, a word on the expansion of the Leiden University footprint – over 20,000 m², accommodating 4,000 students and staff – in the Hofstad, where teaching and research focus on subjects like security, international relations, and public administration. “The number of students at our programmes grows every year; a quarter of our students now study in The Hague,” explains Muller. “This is partly due to the city’s real-world context, which aligns perfectly with our educational offerings. Our current four locations were simply no longer sufficient.”

Main entrance: The main entrance is located in the historic façade of the former V&D department store on the Spui.

When the old V&D building came into view, Muller admits he had his doubts. “An old retail building without windows didn’t seem suitable at first, but on closer inspection, it proved ideal: spacious enough for us as well as for the Open University, TU Delft, LUMC, and other Dutch university partners. Together, we develop programmes for students and staff, each drawing on our expertise, but also with and for the city.” A preview was showcased during the Science Weekend last autumn.

Connecting

“Another factor is the location,” Muller continues. “Whereas we are currently located on Turfmarkt, among the administrative institutions, we will soon be on the corner of Spuistraat and Spui, in the heart of the political world – our entrance will be diagonally opposite that of the House of Commons. At the same time, this is the city’s shopping centre, which attracts a wide range of people.

That is why we want to connect much more with the city at this location, while taking safety risks into account, and show what we do. In Leiden, with its long university tradition, this is quite normal, but here it needs to grow. The roof terrace of the new location offers a beautiful view of the Binnenhof. How cool would it be, for example, to have a public programme with lectures on politics in that location?”

With two university restaurants, a gym for students and staff, a lecture hall, a large multifunctional exam hall, and a bike shed for 1,300 bicycles, there’s no shortage of facilities – and all as sustainable as possible. “We’re committed to the The Hague Climate Agreement, and students and staff – who work on this daily – expect it,” says Muller. “As much as possible, we’ve reused materials in construction and interiors, right down to the bike racks. Natural light is maximised to reduce the need for artificial lighting. The roof features greenery and solar panels. And that’s just the start.”

Microbakery

To emphasise its open character, a publicly accessible ground floor has been created along Spuistraat. “At 45 metres, I have the longest façade on Spuistraat,” says a proud Anil Soekhoe. His Brew & Bake concept, a microbakery with specialty coffee for breakfast and lunch, doesn’t have a direct connection to the rest of the complex, but it is all about connecting students, staff, and the shopping public. “I really value the link between the university and the city. Both are internationally oriented, like Brew & Bake. That’s one of the reasons for starting here,” he explains.

Brew & Bake is a Japanese-Scandinavian microbakery with specialty coffee for breakfast and lunch.

The café style is Japanese-Scandinavian, or “Japandish.” How did that come about? Soekhoe laughs. “I travel the world seeking new concepts and trends. In Scandinavia, I noticed beautifully robust artisanal bread that’s rare in the Netherlands. In Japan, I was inspired by the minimalist, clean, precise style. You see all these elements in both the interior design and our viennoiserie.”

Quality is everything for the entrepreneur. “We serve excellent coffee, matcha, and health drinks,” he lists. “But also extremely tasty and healthy bread made from the finest ingredients, in collaboration with Brood van Bro. You do what you do best and arrange the rest properly.” Viennoiserie, such as cinnamon or cardamom buns and croissants, almond-topped or not, is freshly made on site. “Top quality applies to butter, flour, and staff alike. Our focus is on Gen Z and the upcoming Gen A students, who value quality and appreciate innovative concepts.”

360-degree experience

Unique in The Hague’s hospitality scene is a counter that can be approached from all sides. “All walls remain clear, letting light flow through,” Soekhoe explains. This allows the university to be “on display.” “Imagine what we could do here,” Muller muses. “Students might have fascinating things to share with the city. We’ll explore that soon.”

Muller and Soekhoe look to the future with confidence. “In 2026, for the first time in the university’s 450-year history, the academic year will open here at the Spui, not in Leiden. A signal that our commitment to the city is long-term,” Muller says. “That suits me fine,” adds Soekhoe. “I strongly believe in long partnerships, so I hope we’re still here in twenty years’ time.”

www.universiteitleiden.nl

www.brewenbake.nl