On This Day
·

Nomenclator of Leiden University Library appears, the first printed catalog of an institutional library

Leiden University Libraries is the set of libraries of Leiden University, founded in 1575 in Leiden, Netherlands.

Leiden University Libraries is the set of libraries of Leiden University, founded in 1575 in Leiden, Netherlands. Holdings include some five million volumes, one million e-books, ninety thousand e-journals, two thousand current paper journals, and three thousand cuneiform tablets. The library manages large collections on Indonesia and the Caribbean, and curates seven entries in UNESCO's international and Dutch Memory of the World Register.

Joseph Justus Scaliger, who was a languages and history professor at Leiden from 1593 up to 1609, commented in Latin on the library: "Est hic magna commoditas bibliothecae ut studiosi possint studere"

—Josephus Justus Scaliger

"Here [at Leiden] is the great convenience of a library so that those who want to study [students], can study."

Historical Significance

Leiden University Libraries is the set of libraries of Leiden University, founded in 1575 in Leiden, Netherlands.

Events Before

  1. A 'Company of Far Lands' established by Dutch merchants in Amsterdam to send ships to the East Indies, beginning of the

    A 'Company of Far Lands' established by Dutch merchants in Amsterdam to send ships to the East Indies, beginning of the Dutch East Indies Company [1]

  2. French King Henry IV festival in Paris

    Paris is the capital and largest city of France, with an estimated city population of 2,047,602 in an area of 105.4 km2 (40.7 sq mi), and a metropolitan population of 13,239,090 as of January 2026.

  3. Flemish painter Pieter Stevens is appointed as the royal painter of Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II in Prague

    Flemish painter Pieter Stevens is appointed as the royal painter of Holy Roman Emperor Rudolf II in Prague

  4. Siege of Spanish held city of Groningen begins led by Dutch and English army led by Maurice of Orange

    The siege of Groningen was a two-month siege which commenced on 19 May 1594, and which took place during the Eighty Years' War and the Anglo-Spanish War.

  5. Dutch city Groningen held by Spain surrenders to Dutch and England army led by Maurice of Orange

    The siege of Groningen was a two-month siege which commenced on 19 May 1594, and which took place during the Eighty Years' War and the Anglo-Spanish War.

Events After

  1. German astronomer and priest David Fabricius discovers the light variation of Mira, the first variable star

    German astronomer and priest David Fabricius discovers the light variation of Mira, the first variable star

  2. Catholic League disbanded

    Catholic League disbanded

  3. Albert VII Archduke of Austria occupies Calais

    Calais is a French major port city in the Pas-de-Calais department, of which it is a subprefecture. Calais is the largest city in Pas-de-Calais.

  4. Pacificatie of Ireland drawn

    Pacificatie of Ireland drawn

  5. Dutch explorer Willem Barents sets off from Amsterdam on his third expedition to try to find a Northwest passage through

    Dutch explorer Willem Barents sets off from Amsterdam on his third expedition to try to find a Northwest passage through the Arctic

More from the 1590s

Korean naval commander Admiral Yi Sun-sin begins his famous war diary "Nanjung ilgi" (included in UNESCO's Memory of the

Korean naval commander Admiral Yi Sun-sin begins his famous war diary "Nanjung ilgi" (included in UNESCO's Memory of the World 2013) [1]

Jacob van Neck's fleet leaves Bantam, Java in modern-day Indonesia with 1 million pounds of pepper and cloves and a furt

Jacob van Neck's fleet leaves Bantam, Java in modern-day Indonesia with 1 million pounds of pepper and cloves and a further half a ship full of nutmeg, mace and cinnamon

King Naresuan of Siam kills Crown Prince Minchit Sra of Burma in single combat, date is now observed as Royal Thai Armed

King Naresuan of Siam kills Crown Prince Minchit Sra of Burma in single combat, date is now observed as Royal Thai Armed Forces Day

William Shakespeare's play "Romeo and Juliet" is thought to have been first performed; officially published early 1597

William Shakespeare's play "Romeo and Juliet" is thought to have been first performed; officially published early 1597

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened on May 24, 1595?
Leiden University Libraries is the set of libraries of Leiden University, founded in 1575 in Leiden, Netherlands. Holdings include some five million volumes, one million e-books, ninety thousand e-journals, two thousand current paper journals, and three thousand cuneiform tablets. The library manages large collections on Indonesia and the Caribbean, and curates seven entries in UNESCO's international and Dutch Memory of the World Register.
Why is Nomenclator of Leiden University Library appears, the first printed catalog o... significant?
Leiden University Libraries is the set of libraries of Leiden University, founded in 1575 in Leiden, Netherlands.

Explore More

May 24 in HistoryYear 1595