Planning a trip to Leeuwarden, the Dutch city that will be one of the European Capitals of Culture in 2018? The event will be opened in presence of King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima of the Netherlands on Saturday evening 27 January 2018. There will be lots of activities this year, not only in Leeuwarden, but also in the province of Friesland of which it is the capital. The event has its own website: Leeuwarden 2018.nl. The other European Capital of Culture 2018 by the way is Valletta, Malta.
If you’re planning a visit, I can recommend you one of the walking tours through the city of Leeuwarden or one of the lectures about the Frisian Nassaus by Bearn Bilker, Oranje-Nassau expert and president of the Nassau and Friesland Foundation. I just received his list for 2018 and got permission to post it here.
January 2018
Friday 26 January 2018, 7pm, 8pm, 9pm, municipality hall, Kollum, narration the true life of Marijke Meu (Marie-Louise of Hessen-Kassel) on the occasion of Verhalen LF18.
April 2018
Saturday 28 April 2018, 7pm, Hotel Tjaarda, Oranjewoud (near Heerenveen). State banquet with the theme “Friesian Nassaus and Oranjewoud. Hotel Tjaarda, Staatsbanket met thema: “Friese Nassaus en Oranjewoud”. For more information and enrollment: Hotel Tjaarda
May 2018
Saturday 5 May 2018, 2pm-4pm, It Lytse Slot, Veenklooster, narration with the exhibition “De Verhalen van de Oranjes” (The Stories of the Oranges).
Friday 11 May 2018, 2pm-4pm, It Lytse Slot, Veenklooster, narration with the exhibition “De Verhalen van de Oranjes” (The Stories of the Oranges).
Saturday 12 May 2018, 2pm-4pm, It Lytse Slot, Veenklooster, narration with the exhibition “De Verhalen van de Oranjes” (The Stories of the Oranges).
Friday 25 May 2018, 2pm-4pm, It Lytse Slot, Veenklooster, narration with the exhibition “De Verhalen van de Oranjes” (The Stories of the Oranges).
Saturday 26 May 2018, 2pm-4pm, It Lytse Slot, Veenklooster, narration with the exhibition “De Verhalen van de Oranjes” (The Stories of the Oranges).
June 2018
Saturday 16 June 2018, 2pm-4pm, Leeuwarden, start at the Grote- en Jacobijnerkerk, Nassau walk.
Saturday 23 June 2018, 2pm-4pm, Leeuwarden, start at the Grote- en Jacobijnerkerk, Nassau walk.
Saturday 30 June 2018, 2pm-4pm, Leeuwarden, start at the Waalse Kerk, Anna of Hannover walk.
July 2018
Saturday 7 July 2018, 2pm-4pm, Leeuwarden, start at the Grote- en Jacobijnerkerk, Nassau walk.
Saturday 14 July 2018, 2pm-4pm, Leeuwarden, start at the Grote- en Jacobijnerkerk, Nassau walk.
Saturday 21 July 2018, 2pm-4pm, Leeuwarden, start at the Grote- en Jacobijnerkerk, Nassau walk.
Saturday 28 July 2018, 2pm-4pm, Leeuwarden, start at the Grote- en Jacobijnerkerk, Nassau walk.
August 2018
Saturday 4 August 2018, 2pm-4pm, Leeuwarden, start at the Grote- en Jacobijnerkerk, Maria Louise of Hessen-Kassel walk.
Wednesday 8 August 2018, 2pm-4pm, Leeuwarden, start at the Grote- en Jacobijnerkerk, special tour in the Grote Kerk and Waalse Kerk around Maria-Louise of Hessen Kassel and Anna of Hannover.
Friday 10 August 2018, 2pm-4pm, Leeuwarden, start at the Waalse Kerk, Anna of Hannover walk.
Saturday 11 August 2018, 10.30am-12.30pm, Leeuwarden, start at the Grote- en Jacobijnerkerk, Nassau walk. In German.
Saturday 11 August 2018, 2pm-4pm, Leeuwarden, start at the Grote- en Jacobijnerkerk, Nassau walk.
Saturday 18 August 2018, 10.30am-12.30pm, Leeuwarden, start at the Grote- en Jacobijnerkerk, Nassau walk. In German.
Saturday 18 August 2018, 2pm-4pm, Leeuwarden, start at the Grote- en Jacobijnerkerk, Nassau walk.
Friday 24 August 2018, 2pm-4pm, Leeuwarden, start at the Waalse Kerk, Anna of Hannover walk.
Saturday 25 August 2018, 2pm-4pm, Leeuwarden, start at the Grote- en Jacobijnerkerk, Nassau walk.
Thursday 30 August 2018, 8pm, Lycklamahuis, Beetsterzwaag, narration about Frisian nobility.
September 2018
Saturday 1 September 2018, 2pm-4pm, Leeuwarden, start at the Grote- en Jacobijnerkerk, Nassau walk.
Sunday 2 September 2018, afternoon, Lycklamahuis, Beetsterzwaag, narration about Frisian nobility.
More information
On request more walking tours about above themes are possible. For groups/guests/visitors also possible in French, German, Frisian and if necessary English.
The walking tours and tours in Leeuwarden kost 3,50 Euro a person and are to be paid at the start of the tour. Please, enrol for Leeuwarden at the Historisch Centrum Leeuwarden
For other possibilites and information contact Bearn Bilker himself. You can do that via me.