Celebrate the Maori people and culture! The Old Observatory has partnerd with Volkenkunde Museum to offer very exciting activities!

On Saturday 30th April 2022, Leiden will celebrate the Māori people and culture! As part of this celebration, the Old Observatory has partnered with Volkenkunde Museum to offer some exciting activities! Between 12:00 - 16:00, you can sail along the Singel waterway of Leiden, from Volkenkunde to the Observatory, in a waka guided by the rowing club Njord, who have been trained by Māori rowers. This is a very special activity as the waka holds an important place in Māori culture.

On arrival, you can choose to access Hortus Botanicus. Here you can visit the Old Observatory on one of our exclusive walk-in tours. On this tour, you will be brought to one of our historical telescopes and be guided through our current art-science exhibition, Shared Sky.

Feeling creative? Join us outside the visitor centre to learn about constellations and explore  how astronomy and culture are intertwined. Be inspired by the artworks of Aboriginal Australian and South African artists in our current art-science exhibition, and add your own constellation to our collaborative painting.

Important Information

Sail on the waka:

Where: Volkenkunde Museum Dock

Time: 12:00-16:00. The waka will sail when full.

Price: FREE

See link for more details: https://www.volkenkunde.nl/nl/zien-en-doen/activiteiten/Māori-weekend.

Collaborative painting

Where: Old Observatory Visitor Centre

Time: 12:00-16:00

Price: Hortus entry ticket

Exclusive tours:

Where:  Old Observatory Visitor Centre

Time:

• 11:30 - 12:30 (walk-in from 11:15)
• 13:00 - 14:00 (walk-in from 12:45)
• 14:30 - 15:30 (walk-in from 14:15)
• 16:00 - 17:00 (walk-in from 15:45)

Price: Hortus entry ticket + tour ticket

See link for more details: https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/oudesterrewacht