This year, Wereldmuseum Leiden and Pasar Leiden are joining forces to organise Pasar Leiden at a new and larger location. The event aims to strengthen the connection between the city, local businesses, residents, and communities with the goal of sharing knowledge about the Indonesian and Indo culture for all generations.
Get your tickets at the bottom of the page.
In recent years, Pasar Leiden has grown from a festival that mainly emphasises Indo(nesian) culture to a platform that explores the relationship between the Indonesian and Indo communities. The collaboration with Wereldmuseum Leiden offers an opportunity to bring the historical and cultural context of Indonesia, which the museum is rich in, closer to the public.
Comedian Ricky Risolles is known for his sharp, recognisable and hilarious take on Indonesian life in the Netherlands. During Pasar Leiden, he will bring his comedy show to the main stage, where he will talk with great verve and flair about family, food, upbringing and culture – all peppered with Indonesian humour. His performance is both a celebration of recognition and an introduction to a community that tells its story with humour and pride. He also presents the popular IndoQuiz: a light-hearted quiz full of facts, anecdotes and surprises.
Let yourself be carried away by the sounds of Indonesia and the Indonesian diaspora. The main stage at Pasar Leiden offers a continuous programme full of live music, dance and performance. There are also performances in the museum café and the outdoor culture corner. Enjoy the angklung orchestra Melodi Bambu, listen to the poetic monologue of Hot Eddy, and swing along to the music of Time Flies and Peter Surie. The classical Javanese dance group Kuwung Kuwung II also provides a visual and musical highlight. Expect a mix of tradition, personal stories and contemporary expression.
Even the youngest visitors will find plenty to enjoy at Pasar Leiden. In the Kids' Corner, children can have their faces painted, do crafts and participate in cultural activities. One of the highlights is Mr Rubens Agaatsz's kite workshop, where children can design and decorate their own colourful kites. A playful introduction to Indian and Indonesian crafts and stories.
For those looking for more depth, Pasar Leiden, in collaboration with the Wereldmuseum Leiden, offers a programme full of lectures, films and guided tours. In De Voormoeders (The Fore-Mothers), historian Suze Zijlstra tells the often forgotten stories of Asian women in the Dutch East Indies and explains how you can research your own family history. In the documentary Tussen Wal en Schip (Between Two Worlds), three grandchildren follow in the footsteps of their Indonesian grandparents. After the film, there will be a discussion with the filmmakers. Special guided tours of the museum will place the colonial history and the collection in context.
For those looking for more depth, Pasar Leiden, in collaboration with the Wereldmuseum Leiden, offers a programme full of lectures, films and guided tours. In De Voormoeders (The Fore-Mothers), historian Suze Zijlstra tells the often forgotten stories of Asian women in the Dutch East Indies and explains how you can research your own family history. In the documentary Tussen Wal en Schip (Between Two Worlds), three grandchildren follow in the footsteps of their Indonesian grandparents. After the film, there will be a discussion with the filmmakers. Special guided tours of the museum will place the colonial history and the collection in context.
In the Culture Corner, you can try your hand at traditional crafts and art forms from Indonesia. Make a wayang puppet, design batik on paper or learn how to make a Balinese offering. These workshops combine cultural explanations with practical experience. There are also demonstrations of pencak silat, the traditional martial art, and Balinese yoga workshops. For visitors who want more than just to watch: experience the heritage up close, guided by expert makers and teachers.
With this ticket, you have access to the entire festival (indoor and outdoor). Children up to 18 years old enter for free.
