Leiden University's Winter Weeks
- Date
- Tuesday 20 December 2022 - Tuesday 3 January 2023
- Address
- Leiden and The Hague
Take part in fun activities!
Spending the festive season away from home? Get together with fellow students from all over the world during the Winter Weeks from 20 December till 3 January. Make new friends and have a great international winter break!
Join our Christmas lunch, go ice skating or take part in a creative writing workshop.
During the Winter Weeks, Leiden university organises various free activities in collaboration with the student associations. Some activities have limited availability so sign-up today!
Programme Winter Weeks
Do you want to explore what the writer in you is capable of? During this creative writing workshop you will learn how to get started on a short story. You can also choose to join a WhatsApp group in which you can later give feedback on one another’s short stories.
Workshop by Anna Keijzer.
Location: Plexus Student Centre, Kaiserstraat 25, Leiden, Kikker room (second floor)
Register here
The Meeting Point Leiden University cordially invites you to attend the upcoming Winter potluck dinner on Wednesday, December 21st from 5:00 p.m. to 8.00 p.m. at Plexus Student Centre in Leiden. This is a great opportunity to meet your peers, socialize, enjoy some delicious food, and furthermore, showcase both your culinary creativity and culinary culture.
Location: Plexus Student Centre, Kaiserstraat 25, Leiden
Register here.
We are pleased to invite you to our Christmas dinner at Breestraat 50 (Minerva student association). Christmas is an occasion that brings people together, so during this dinner we would like to establish a connection between students and the people of Leiden. Please feel welcome to join our free 3-course dinner. Please register in advance via the link below. We hope to see you on 22nd.
Location: Breestraat 50, Leiden (Minerva)
Register here
A tour guide will take you on a winter tour and tell you all about the history of this fantastic botanical garden. For example, learn about the Von Siebold Memorial Garden and how botanical plants hibernate.
Location: Hortus Botanicus entrance (shop), Rapenburg 72, Leiden
Register here
If you can’t be with the ones you love, love the ones you are with...
Join this festive lunch for approx. 40 people around the Christmas tree at Plexus. Hospitality and generosity are key aspects of this season so what better way to show it than by sharing food together.
Location: Plexus Student Centre restaurant, Kaiserstraat 25, Leiden
Register here
For this special movie night, Catena student association will open its doors to 10 international students so we can enjoy a movie together. Places are limited so advance registration is essential. You will also be offered a drink and popcorn.
Location: VSL Catena, Kolfmakersteeg 8, Leiden
Register here
During the Winter Weeks, all students have free admission to the University Sports Centre (USC) location in Leiden. Come and work out for free in our gyms. Please register in advance via the link below.
Location: Einsteinweg 6, Leiden
Register here in advance - upon arrival, go to the USC reception and tell staff that you have registered for free sports.
Skating rink De Uithof is the perfect place for an afternoon of skating. The Uithof will provide you with skates. No worries if you have never skated before. We have an instructor ready to get you on your way and teach you all the tricks.
Location: De Uithof, Jaap Edenweg 10, The Hague
Register here
Start 2023 with a great city walk, developed by Professor Ton van Raan who knows all the best places in Leiden. Download the app here. In the Augustinus building you can drop by for ‘oliebollen’, and at Einstein café you are invited for a glass of Gluhwein to keep yourself warm. Just say ‘City Walk Leiden University’ and it’s complementary.
Meet up in front of Augustinus student association, Rapenburg 24, Leiden.
No registration required. Team up via Uni-Life
This scenic outdoor ice rink is adjacent to Leiden town hall. With all the Christmas lights, the ambiance is simply magical. If you register in advance via the link below, skate hire is free of charge.
Location: Outdoor ice rink, Nieuwe Rijn, Leiden
Register here
Let's get together and get creative with wooden sticks. Geometric wall art is very popular. It’s also a really easy way to make your own artwork. Just choose one of the templates and you are guaranteed to go home with a beautiful wooden work of art!
Location: Plexus Student Centre, Kaiserstraat 25, Leiden, Spectrum room (ground floor)
Register here
Theme: The sense of belonging. We will be screening the documentary ‘All You See’ directed by Niki Padidar. After the documentary, you can enjoy lunch whilst having the opportunity to engage in dialogue with other students about your own experiences, your conerns and your hopes for the future.
Location: Plexus Student Centre, Kaiserstraat 25, Leiden, Spectrum room (ground floor)
Register here
Other fun free winter activities for students
In addition to our own Winter Weeks programme, we have listed a few other activities that students can enjoy for free in Leiden and The Hague. Fancy going to one of these activities but don't want to go alone? Host or join a meet-up via the Uni-life app.
Find each other via WhatsApp or Uni-Life for the ultimate Christmas experience. Come and listen to storytellers and children’s choirs. The Lange Voorhout is full of cosy stalls with flammkuchen, wood carvings and winter coats.
Location: Lange Voorhout, The Hague
Free entrance
No registration - Team up via Uni-Life
Team up via WhatsApp or Uni-life for the annual New Year’s plunge. A fresh and fun-filled start to the new year. This is an annual event that has been going since 1960, with 7,000 to 10,000 participants every year.
Location: near the pier and Kurhause Hotel, Scheveningen, The Hague
Students meet up in front of New York Pizza
Free entrance
No registration - Team up via Uni-Life
As well as traditional fairground attractions, you can also enjoy cotton candy and ‘poffertjes’. This year, Santa Claus will also visit the fair regularly. He even has one of his country houses located at the fairground.
Location: Garenmarktplein, Leiden
Free entrance
No registration - Team up via Uni-Life
Download the City Walk app developed by Professor Ton van Raan, who knows the most interesting places in Leiden and has incorporated them into a city walk. Get to know Leiden’s cultural heritage and more. Leiden city of discoveries!
No registration - Team up via Uni-Life
Download the City walk app here