Universiteit Leiden

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Student wellbeing

Leiden University's Winter Weeks

Date
Friday 20 December 2024 - Friday 3 January 2025
Address
Leiden and The Hague

Meet with other students and take part in fun activities!

Spending the festive season away from home? Get together with fellow students from all over the world during the Winter Weeks from 20 December to 3 January. Make new friends and have a great international winter break! You can take part in a range of free activities.

Registration opens 8 December.

Program of the Winter Weeks
The programme of the Leiden University's Winter Weeks

Friday 20 December

11:00 - 13:00 | Winter Wisdom Walk Leiden | Station Leiden Lammenschans 15:00 - 17:00 | Winter Wisdom Walk The Hague | under the Meeting Cloud at The Hague Central Station.

Saturday 21 December

20:00 - 22:00 | Christmas Karaoke | Quintus, Boommarkt 5

Monday 23 December

10:00 - 12:00 | Drawing a winter landscape | Lipsius, Leiden, atelier 1.44 20:00 - 23:00 | Movienight | Catena, Kolfmakersteeg 8 Leiden

Wednesday 25 December

11:00 - 13:00 | Christmas lunch/brunch | Golden Tulip hotel Leiden

Friday 27 December

14:00 - 15:30 | Photography walk | SSR, Hogewoerd 108, Leiden 20:00 - 23:00 | Game Café | Catena, Kolfmakersteeg 8 Leiden

Saturday 28 December

19:00 - 21:00 | Pubquiz | Pelargos, Binckhorstlaan 285, Den Haag

Sunday 29 December

15:00 - 16:30 | Totebag painting | Common Room Beehive, Den Haag

Monday 30 December

12:15 - 15:30 | Ice skating (incl. lesson) | De Uithof, Jaap Edenweg 10, Den Haag

Tuesday 31 December

13:00 - 15:00 | Oliebollen walk | Augustinus, Rapenburg 24, Leiden

Thursday 2 January

12:00 - 13:30 | Boulderen | Boulderhal Walhalla, Johan van Veenplein 12, Den Haag

Friday 3 January

15:00 - 17:00 | Creative writing | Beehive, Apiary Room, The Hague

Free sports at USC*

During the Winter Weeks the University Sportscentre (USC) has a special offer. You can do free sports from December 21 to January 19 to get your new year off to a great start. Besides fitness and groupclasses at all USC locations at Leiden and The Hague, you can try sports such as swimming, ice skating and booking a sportshall or tennis court. Pre-registration is required by 3 January! Check out the opening hours and sports of the USC location. *All classes are open during this period, except for courses you must register for.

Register!

Other fun & (almost) free winter activities for students

In addition to our own Winter Weeks programme, we have listed a few other activities that students can enjoy in Leiden and The Hague.

Nostalgic Christmas Market | Leiden Ongoing

Need a listening ear?

The University will be closed from 25 December – 1 January. For study-related questions, you can get in touch with your study adviser again after the holidays. You can call this helpline anonymously, day or night, all days of the week, all year round. Because talking makes you feel better. When you are hurting or worrying about something; when you feel alone or happy. The Listening Line gives you that extra bit of support.

If you need a listening ear, get in touch with the Luisterlijn 

  • Phone no: 0880767000
  • Available daily (24/7). Including over the holidays!  
  • De Luisterlijn conducts conversations in Dutch. If a volunteer wants to and can, the conversation may be conducted in another language, but that is up to the volunteer.
  • More information about helplines abroad can be found on IFOTES.

Fresh Start Support Group

Do you want to continue making the most of winter by connecting with others and participating in fun activities? Starting in the week of January 13th, you can join a Fresh Start Support Group - a special edition of the Student Support Groups, designed for the cold, dark days of winter. For three weeks you’ll come together with your group for two sessions a week: one conventional group conversation, and one fun activity, such as a sports class or an art workshop.

The Fresh Start Support Group is primarily for students spending their winter in Leiden or The Hague, and we expect participants to attend at least 5 out of 6 meetings. As this is a pilot programme, spots are limited. Sign up by January 6th at the latest to secure your place! Visit this page to learn more and register.

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