Voorjaarsvakantie
Until 1 March 2026

Spring break

Spring break at Wereldmuseum Leiden 

Let yourself be amazed this spring break at Wereldmuseum Leiden. During the spring break at the Wereldmuseum Leiden, you can make a personal love letter out of beads, inspired by the Nguni and Zulu traditions from South Africa. Or come to the festive celebration of Chinese New Year and learn more about the symbolism, traditions and rituals of the festival. There will also be a story and workshop at the newly opened exhibition Time for Papua. 

Workshop: Make your own Chinese Lucky Knots

Discover the art of traditional Chinese knotting during this Chinese lucky knots workshop. Lucky knots are elegant, decorative knots that symbolise prosperity, happiness and harmony. During the workshop, you will learn about their meaning and how to make these beautiful knots. At the end of the workshop, you will go home with your own handmade lucky knot and the knowledge to continue knotting yourself.      

  • For whom: 8+ or 6+ accompanied by an adult  
  • When: 16 February to 1 March  
  • Time: 12:00-16:00 (Please note: join by 15:30)    
  • Location: Atelier    
  • Price: free with a museum ticket  
WMA

Workshop: Galloping towards a new beginning

n the Workshop, you will make a lantern in which a horse appears to be galloping! In the Chinese zodiac, the horse is an animal that loves to travel and is always curious. It does not give up easily, is brave and dares to try difficult things. First, you decorate your lantern with gold, then you make the horse really move. This is how you bring the Year of the Horse to life – on to a year full of adventure, perseverance and new opportunities, galloping towards a wonderful new beginning.  

  • For whom: 8+ or 6+ accompanied by an adult  
  • When: 16 February to 1 March  
  • Time: Continuous workshop, join in if there is space.      
  • 12:00-16:00 (Please note: join in until 15:30)    
  • Location: Studio    
  • Price: free with a museum ticket 
Workshop

Story in the exhibition: Sai Weng lost his horse

What is luck and what is misfortune? The ancient Chinese story of Sai Weng shows how events only acquire meaning later on. When his horse disappears, it seems like a loss. When the animal returns with a wild horse, it seems like luck. Yet Sai Weng remains calm: he knows that everything can change. The story reflects important themes from Chinese philosophy, such as balance, patience and letting go of quick judgements. This wisdom ties in nicely with the Year of the Horse in China, which focuses on strength, movement and unexpected twists and turns.  

  • For whom: all ages  
  • When: 16 February to 20 February  
  • Time: 13:00-13:15 & 16:00-16:15  
  • Price: free with a museum ticket  

Story and workshop: Papwa the paradise bird

Meet Papwa, the colourful Cendrawasih who has his heart and roots in Papua but lives in the Netherlands. The story of this bird of paradise takes young visitors on a journey about identity, connectedness and carrying multiple worlds. As part of the temporary exhibition “Time for Papua”, educator and writer Gill Aringaneng will give a lively book presentation, followed by a creative workshop based on her beloved children's book character Papwa.  

  • When: Wednesday 18 February & Sundays 22 February  
  • Story: 14:00-14:15  
  • In the cinema room of the exhibition Time for Papua  
  • Join in if there is space.  
  • The story is suitable for all ages. 
  • Workshop: 14:20-15:00 
  • Workshop room 
  • Max. 15 participants 
  • Register at the desk. 
  • The workshop is for ages 8 and up, ages 6 and up with supervision. 

Game: Papua family dice game

Experience the exhibition with the Papua dice game. During this family route, you will actively explore the exhibition together in search of various objects. With a dice, cards and fun assignments, you will learn more about Papua and each other. The route invites you to look, draw, search, ask questions and move around. This makes a visit to the museum an active experience full of wonder, fun and learning together for the whole family. 

  • For whom: Ages 6 and up 
  • When: 16 February to 1 March 
  • Time: Continuously from 10:00 to 17:00  
  • Location: Available at the reception desk  
  • Price: free with a museum ticket