The year in Leeuwarden
The big moments of the year in Leeuwarden: Northern Film Festival, Sinterklaas arrives, Explore the North and more, with their dates.
Northern Film Festival
Five days of films from across northern Europe and from the north of the Netherlands, in De Harmonie, Slieker, Pathé and Neushoorn.
Sinterklaas arrives
Sinterklaas arrives around the Prinsentuin and the Gouverneursplein, with a route through the centre. Districts such as Westeinde and Bilgaard hold their own arrivals on later Saturdays.
Explore the North
A festival weekend of music, poetry and stories at locations in the historic centre, made by Podium Explore.
Christmas markets
The Blokhuispoort, the former prison, becomes a Christmas market with stalls, a food court and live music, and Camminghaburen has its own market on the Saturday.
Decemberlicht
A free light walk: Kroft&Smids turn facades and buildings into an open-air museum with animations, poetry and films. The route takes about 45 minutes.
King's Day
King's Day: a free market (vrijmarkt) through the centre, parties on the Oldehoofsterkerkhof and the Wilhelminaplein, and King's Night the evening before.
Bevrijdingsfestival Fryslân
Liberation Day in the Frisian capital: a festival on 5 May with a main stage and a children's programme. The Dodenherdenking is the evening before, on 4 May.
Into The Grave
A three-day metal festival on the Oldehoofsterkerkhof, in the middle of the city and a ten-minute walk from the station.
Prinsentuin concerts
Free concerts in the bandstand of the Prinsentuin, every Sunday afternoon through the summer with different artists each week.
