Academy Building

The Academy Building, built in the style of the northern Dutch Renaissance, is the main building of the University of Groningen. It is the place where all university ceremonies take place and where the nine faculties each have their own faculty rooms.

The current Academy Building dates from 1909. It was built on the foundations of the older building and designed by state architect J. A. Vrijman. The building was thoroughly renovated in 2007/2008.

• How to get to the Academy building
• 360 degree photo

First Academy Building

The first Academy Building (1614), was designed by the architect Garwer Peters. It was a simple, low building, originally a convent, which was torn down in 1846 because of the poor state it was in.

Second Academy Building

Since the central government did not want to pay for a new building, the second Academy Building was founded with money collected from the city and the province four years later. In 1906 however, a fire caused a great deal of damage.

Current Academy Building

The third, and current, Academy Building was rapidly designed after the fire. It has three façades. Under the middle façade is the goddess Minerva as the goddess of science, between the university coat of arms and the Dutch lion. Left of her is Scientia and Historia is on her right. Prudentia is in the left façade and in the right façade is Mathematica. On the left side of the building you will find the tower with a carillon and a clock, donated by the Groningen citizenry.