Since Wetsus is located in Leeuwarden, your student life will continue in this beautiful city! On this page you can find useful and fun information about living in Leeuwarden, including housing information, events, and past student experiences.
Leeuwarden is located in the north of the Netherlands in the province of Friesland (in Dutch) or Fryslân (in Frisian). Home to many historic buildings, canals, and art works, the town has something to offer for anyone. It is not without reason, that Ljouert (as the Frisian call it) was the cultural capital of Europe in 2018.
Get an impression of the city in this video, or check out this site.
There are a few official holidays here in the Netherlands. People get off from work and fun festivities are usually organised all around the country (also in Leeuwarden!). Some of these holidays stem from historic and religious events, and on religious days people still attend religious (usually Christian) ceremonies. However, the majority of the country just enjoys a nice day off.
New Year’s Day (Nieuwjaarsdag) on the 1st of January. The day after we celebrate the start of the New Year.
Good Friday (Goede Vrijdag) on the Friday before Easter). A Christian holiday and usually a day off from work.
Easter (Pasen) on the first Sunday after the first full moon of Spring. So, the date changes per year. A Christian holiday. There is also a 2nd Easter day on the Monday thereafter, which means a day off! Usually Easter also comes with celebrating the arrival of spring.
King’s Day (Koningsdag) on the 27th of April. The Dutch King, Willem Alexander, celebrates his birthday on this day. No everyone gets off from work, but usually the streets of many different Dutch towns are fully coloured orange. Every year a different town is put in the spotlight, where the King and his family parade through the streets and play typical Dutch games and look at local performers.
Memorial Day (Nationale Dodenherdenking) on the 4th of May.
Liberation Day (Bevrijdingsdag) on the 5th of May.
Ascension Day (Hemelvaartsdag) is 39 days after the first day of Easter. A Christian holiday.
Pentecost (Pinksteren) is on the 7th Sunday after Easter. A Christian holiday. There is also a 2nd Pentecost day on the Monday thereafter, which means a day off!
Sint Maarten (Martinmas) on the 11th of November.
Sinterklaas (Dutch Santa Claus). His arrival day is the first Saturday after Sint Maarten and Pakjesavond (gift exchange evening) is celebrated on the 5th of December.
Christmas (Kerstmis) in on the 25th of December. A Christian holiday. There is also a 2nd Christmas day on the day thereafter, which means an extra day off!
Oudejaarsavond (Old Year’s Eve) on the 31st of December. Celebrating the end of the year, with popping champagne, eating oliebollen (deep-fried dough balls), watching fireworks, and usually listening to Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen (which always comes as the winning song in the TOP2000, which is organised by a Dutch radio sender).
