Amsterdam University Library

The University of Amsterdam is developing an inner-city campus for the Faculty of Humanities in the heart of the city. Our University Library is an integral part of this development, functioning as a central meeting place and the beating heart of the Agora, a lively square in the middle of the campus. The library is a unique educational building with a gross floor area of approximately 16.000 m², where hundreds of students and staff study, work, and conduct research every day.

Most public and socially oriented functions — study rooms, lecture halls, and the university library café — are located on the ground floor. Because the complex consists of monumental buildings, external modifications are limited. The only place where external newbuild is visible is on the streetscape on the corner of the Nieuwe Doelenstraat – this is the only place where the new identity and function of the complex is visible. The former ambulance gate on the Vendelstraat will be widened and converted into an accessible, open main entrance that connects the campus area directly to the library atrium.

The façade of the new building features a unique screen that functions as a veil between the University Library and the surrounding residential spaces, while also serving as a sunlight filter. “But do read, it doesn't say what it says” – this line from Martinus Nijhoff's poem Awater is displayed in 3D-printed letters with a bronze coating on the facade screen, in 24 languages and 6 different scripts. These languages and scripts correspond to those taught at the Faculty of Humanities. This quote was chosen by faculty members and students.

The library is a dynamic hub within the campus. With hundreds of visitors every day, the building has been designed for intensive use. The atrium is multifunctional – from a study area to a venue for lectures, events, or exhibitions – and can accommodate different user groups at the same time. The open layout, spacious entrance, and central location promote a natural flow between the library and surrounding faculties.

The library is strategically located within the UvA campus, near busy educational buildings such as the Oudemanhuispoort. The Binnengasthuis site has been designed as a car-free and bicycle-free residential area. An underground bicycle parking facility has been built beneath the existing complex, with an entrance in the green strip between the clinic and the nurses' home. This allows bicycle traffic to be handled efficiently, without causing any nuisance to the neighborhood.

In May 2013, after winning a European tender, MVSA Architects and Buro Van Stigt were commissioned to design the new University Library (UB) of the University of Amsterdam (UvA), located on the Binnengasthuis site. In June 2015, MVSA Architects was also commissioned to design the entire interior. The new University Library was officially opened in September 2025 – just in time for the start of the new academic year – so that students, researchers, and staff can immediately benefit from the new facilities and improved amenities.

The Amsterdam University Library is more than a place to study – it is a space for inspiration, collaboration, and reflection. The combination of old and new, light and tranquillity makes the building a unique academic environment. The new library is a lively and accessible place that invites learning, meeting, and discovery. The harmonious balance between heritage and innovation, sustainability and functionality creates an inspiring learning environment where students and staff can feel at home.