As part of its latest exhibit, 'In Brilliant Light,' Wereldmuseum Leiden provides a platform for contemporary African art — and we're very excited.  Opening its doors to the public on 21 December, Wereldmuseum Leiden's exhibit allows us to celebrate and admire the rich and diverse artwork of Africa and its diaspora. Guest-curated by Azu Nwagbogu, […]

Whether you're an art enthusiast in need of inspiration or simply looking for something to do on a sunny day, look no further than Middelheim Museum's newest open-air exhibition. As a collaboration with De Singel international arts centre in Antwerp, the "COME CLOSER" exhibit displays a variety of artistic forms, made by 25 talented artists […]

Summer is the time for chilling on a terrace, making new friends — oh, and finally learning some Dutch.  If you find yourself kicking around stones while your international friends are back home for the summer, one way to fill your time is by starting (or continuing) to learn Dutch — and making some new […]

It's time for the third edition of Pasar Leiden, the annual festival that celebrates Indo and Indonesian culture. After its success in previous years, Pasar Leiden is just getting bigger and better. Organised in collaboration with the Indonesian embassy and hosted at the Pesthuis, the event takes place on Saturday, 31 August. And let me tell […]

If you wish to enjoy an extra day of celebrations this year, head to Leiden on October 3. You’ll find the bars and streets filled with people drinking, dancing, enjoying a traditional stew, and stuffing themselves with haring. To celebrate Leiden’s liberation from the Spanish in 1574, the lucky Leidenaars get the day off work […]

If you’re eager to go trick or treating on All Hallow’s Eve, you will probably be disappointed by the weird looks you’ll get from your Dutch neighbours. While Halloween is not really a big thing in the Netherlands, some elements of the American holiday have started to creep in. You may notice a few Dutch […]

On this day, the clock falls back one hour from 3 AM to 2 AM, meaning you’re getting a whole extra hour to sleep at night! On the other hand, it also means that the days are getting shorter, dark nights longer, and winter is coming in fast. READ MORE | Does the Netherlands have […]

If you were disappointed by the lack of Halloween parties, Sint-Maarten celebrations may make up for it! Some Dutch cities take this seriously, with parades, bonfires, and lantern tours. Sint-Maarten is an exciting day, especially for children. Pumpkins, turnips, and beetroot are turned into spooky lanterns, and kids sing songs in exchange for fruit and […]

Sinterklaas is one holiday where the Dutch go all out on big celebrations and exciting traditions.  While the youngsters sit their shoes under the chimney to receive chocoladeletters (chocolate letters) and other sweet treats, the adults can celebrate the holiday by giving out tailored gifts or writing poems. You’ll find the popular kruidnoten and pepernoten […]