Boerhaavel Avenue 6
Boerhaavelaan 6 in Leiden, built in 1909 and owned by the family of Professor J.A.J. Barge for over a century, received its distinctive look from architect Hendrik Jesse in 1926. The building reflects his signature style of craft, light and space. During World War II, Barge was imprisoned for his opposition to National Socialist racial doctrine, after which his house was temporarily used by the German occupation forces. After the war, the property remained in the family and took on a variety of functions, from residence to art studio.
Location
Leiden
Year built
1909
Architects
Willem Fontein and Hendrik Jesse
Details
Was commissioned in 1942 by the Ortskommandantur
Wheelchair accessible
No
Owned by Monumentenbezit
Since 2025
Visitor information
Boerhaavelaan 6 will soon get a new use. The Textile Research Centre (TRC), a leading institute for textile research, is moving in. This will give the house a new future as a place for culture and science.
Visiting address:
Boerhaavelaan 6, 2334 EN Leiden
The house at Boerhaavelaan 6 received its distinctive look in 1926 thanks to Leiden architect Hendrik Jesse (1860-1943). Probably Willem Fontein was the original designer, but it is Jesse who gave the building its recognizable face.
In the area around Rijnsburgerweg and Boerhaavelaan, many of Jesse's buildings can be found. The avenue itself was laid out in 1906 as the Oegstgeesterlaan, on land that then belonged to Oegstgeest.
Jesse was known for his craftsmanship and versatile style. He widened the house and added fine details, such as metal ornaments and large windows. His work is characterized by a balance between craft and innovation: sober, solid forms with great attention to light and space.
The building includes a first floor of approximately 155 sq. m., a first and second floor of approximately 90 sq. m. each, an attic of approximately 35 sq. m. and a partial basement of approximately 34 sq. m.
Boerhaavelaan 6 has a rich but also fraught history. In 1920 the house was sold to Professor J.A.J. Barge, and for more than a century it remained in the hands of his family.
In late November 1940, during a lecture, Barge spoke out openly against National Socialist racial doctrine and against the exclusion of his Jewish colleagues. A year and a half later, he was arrested and imprisoned in the Sint-Michielsgestel hostage camp.
During his captivity, the house on Boerhaavelaan was occupied by the Ortskommandantur, the German military administration in Leiden. After liberation, the property returned to the ownership of the Barge family.
Over the years, the house has had various functions, including as an art studio and residence.
Monumentenbezit sought a new, socially relevant use for the house. In consultation with the City of Leiden, the choice was made for the Textile Research Centre (TRC), a leading institute for textile research that will move here in 2026.
Before the TRC can fully occupy the property, restoration work is taking place. The structure of the house is still in good condition, but repairs are needed in several areas.
These include removing asbestos, repairing the shell, renewing the electrical system, replacing lead pipes, and addressing plumbing and interior painting. This work is important to make the property ready for the future. Monument Property is having this done carefully, with great attention to the historic value of the building.
In addition, building history research is being conducted to further map the history and construction phases of the property.