 In 1581 Stevin left his native Bruges and moved to Leiden where he attended the Latin school.On 16 February 1583 he enrolled, under the name "Simon Stevinus Brugensis" (meaning "Simon Stevin from Bruges"), at Leiden University, which had been founded by William the Silent in 1575.Here he befriended William the Silent's second son and heir Prince Maurice, the Count of Nassau.