Het chemisch laboratorium ‘de Leeuwenbergh’ te Utrecht (1845-1903)

Abstract

The chemical laboratory 'de Leeuwenbergh' at Utrecht (1845-1903) When Gerrit Jan Mulder (1802-1880) was appointed professor of chemistry at the University of Utrecht, he had the disposal of a badly equipped laboratory, which since 1816 had been situated in the building for anatomy and zoology. Mulder was far from satisfied with these facilities. His ideal was to give his students a practical chemical education: for that purpose he needed an adequate laboratory. In 1845 he got a new laboratory in 'de Leeuwenbergh', at a former plague-house, then in use as barracks. The building was renovated and turned into a for that time excellent chemical laboratory. In this article the history of 'de Leeuwenbergh’ in the capacity of a university laboratory (1845-1903) is discussed.