Lights off, spots on experience a Luminous Fall

This autumn, the Harmonie will transform into a world full of stories and fantasy for everyone aged 0 to 12. With music, theater, dance, and exciting artworks, it promises to be a fantastic weekend. In addition to the performances, there will be lots of fun, free activities in the foyer that you can join. For example, help build a new world in the World Workshop or let loose at the Downtown Disco. Are you bringing all your friends?

Under the peak of the crooked tower, the Stadskas is the vibrant cultural heart of this autumn. In this large, glass greenhouse, the most beautiful moments are nurtured. Two weeks before the start of the winter festival Explore the North, you can find an accessible and diverse program here. The Stadskas is a place to casually gather, brainstorm, let loose, or completely unwind.

Lights (off), camera, action! The roots go back to 1976, when the first edition of the festival took place. The North must be heard and seen, which is why the Noordelijk Film Festival has been the blockbuster in film for forty-three years. The festival stands out with its focus on Northern European cinema, from the UK to Ukraine. A strong selection of the latest feature films and documentaries from this vast northern region shares the screen with promising films from the local area.

In November, you'll encounter art in unexpected forms during Explore the North. The historic city center of Leeuwarden, with its beautiful churches, raw cellars, and other venues, provides the backdrop for a walking tour filled with concerts, literary performances, dance shows, and much more. During the festival's tenth edition, discover the lost, hidden, and suppressed voices of poets, performers, and musicians. For three days, what is otherwise voted out, drowned out, replaced, summarized, or misinterpreted will resonate once again.

The days are getting shorter, the nights are icy cold—but in contrast, there's the coziness of shining peaks, glimmering stars, twinkling lights, and the sound of your favorite Christmas tune. December = Christmas month, and there's no better place to get into the festive spirit than at the Christmas market in the Blokhuispoort. All weekend, the old prison is overflowing with cozy stalls, perfect for last-minute Christmas shopping, indulging in treats, enjoying your favorite Christmas tunes, and plenty of fun for both young and old.

In the transition from the old year to the new, stunning artworks suddenly sparkle in the most unexpected places. This light route through the dark streets of Leeuwarden transforms the city center into a place where stories are told in words and images. A poem on a bare wall, a beautiful quote on a monument, a drab facade that becomes a movie screen. During the darkest days, the projections of Decemberlight bring illumination and guide you along a beautiful route through the city.