HECTIC HOLIDAYS...

Oops, Sinterklaas left a while back and Christmas has just crept up on us while we weren't noticing. It's nearly the holidays now (the schools break up on the 19th) but still time to point out some lovely things going on around Leiden. Many of these are recurring events, like the Christmas market and ice rink in Leiden centre, so I will also refer you to last year's Christmas homepage here, but there are a couple of updates to add as well.

Seasonal Music in Oegstgeest/Leiden

HomeinLeiden has recently heard about Musaix, a new and unusual organisation in Oegstgeest whose only aim is to provide good classical music as accessibly as possible. Their centre is Cultuurhuis de Paulus, the ex-church on the Warmonderweg (just round the corner from Vogelwijk speeltuin, on the Leiden/Oegstgeest boundary), and their inaugural concert will be Schubert's Winterreise on Sunday 21st December at 4pm (details here). Their founder Lucien is keen to attract everyone who loves culture and music, Dutch and international, and is publishing everything in English for this reason; not only that, but under 18s are free (with a paying adult!). Lucien is planning more events and concerts in the year(s) to come, so keep an eye on the site www.musaix.org.

Christmas concerts - they're everywhere this year!

English Christmas carols are something I still miss here in the Netherlands, but looking at the central Leiden choir site http://leidsekoren.nl/index.php?page=concertagenda , it seems I'm spoiled for choice this year. There's a whole range of concerts this week and on the weekend before Christmas there's singing in the street in Leiden and Oegstgeest (Saturday 20th around Leiden, Sunday 21st on the Kempenaerstraat in Oegstgeest), so I would say: go and enjoy the Christmassy atmosphere and listen to some lovely music!

New Year

Calling all newcomers to the Netherlands - the Dutch like to ring the old year out and the new year in with fireworks - a LOT of fireworks! This has its good and bad sides, but either way, be aware that on the 31st (and, to a lesser extent, the 1st) you will see and hear a lot of crashes, fizzes and bangs and come across a lot of young (and not-so-young) people throwing firecrackers. Time to find a good place for your dog to hide!

I'm sorry for the relatively brief page this time, but I'm afraid that HomeinLeiden is finding itself a little overwhelmed in the run up to Christmas this year. Mostly in a nice way, but what with a trip away before Christmas there seems to be even less time than normal for all the things which need to be done. So I am focusing on the things which really need to be done (fewer than you think, really) and just letting go of most of the rest, because what really matters is the people around you, not the things!

HomeinLeiden wishes the very best of festive seasons to all of you and yours, and we will be back in the New Year!

A VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS
AND
BEST WISHES FOR THE NEW YEAR!