Make, learn, and celebrate: mark Keti Koti with a vibrant festival at Wereldmuseum Leiden

Wereldmuseum Leiden is marking Keti Koti this year with a transformative festival celebrating freedom through music, stories, and connection.

Keti Koti, meaning “the chains are broken” in Sranantongo, the Creole language of Suriname, commemorates the abolition of slavery in the Dutch colonies on July 1, 1863.

It’s one of the most significant days on the Dutch calendar, blending remembrance with celebration, and honouring the resilience of those who were enslaved and the freedom that followed.

This year, Wereldmuseum Leiden is marking the run-up to Keti Koti with four Sunday workshops through June, a remembrance get-together with flowers and candles on June 30, and finally a full festival on July 4.

Here’s what to expect 👇🏼

A festive program

🪘 Free concert featuring Afro-American music and a multicultural food court in the museum garden

🦜 Play for the youngest: embark on an adventure with Doctor Iza, a veterinarian from Curaçao, and her parrot Zazu as they explore the topics of colonialism and climate change in an approachable way

🎬 Movie screening of Bagasi and a Q&A session with the director Emma Lesuis: what happens when you discover a hidden colonial family past?

💡 Special museum tour diving into colonialism and colonial heritage

🧵 Variety of workshops from making cowrie shell bracelets and freedom birds, to decorating angisas (head scarves) and learning traditional culinary skills

READ MORE | Keti Koti: the most significant Dutch holiday you’ve probably never heard of

Whether you’re new to the Netherlands or you’ve lived here for years, Keti Koti is a piece of Dutch history that’s worth knowing. And what better way to do it than with a festival?

Say no more, give me the deets

Here’s what you need to know:

📅 When: July 4, from 10:30 AM until 8 PM
📍 Where: Wereldmuseum Leiden, Steenstraat 1, 2312 BS, Leiden

Ready to join? Visit Wereldmuseum Leiden’s website to get your tickets!