Franeker University
by FEDDES, Pieter, Copperplate etching
Leiden was the first city to set up its university in Low Countries (1575, also opening the Staten College, which offered accommodation to students from every part of Europe. Universities in Franeker in Friesland (1585), Groningen (1614), Utrecht (1632) and Harderwijk (1648) soon followed. All had four faculties, enjoyed the right to confer doctorates and were maintained by the provincial prefecture.