17th Century’s Favorite Comedian: Leiden Celebrates Jan Steen’s 400th Birthday with Massive Exhibition
Leiden is turning into a hub of 17th-century humor and chaos as the city celebrates the 400th anniversary of the birth of Jan Steen. Known as the “comedian of the seventeenth century,” Steen’s legacy of irony and wit is taking center stage in a series of high-profile events designed to bring his vibrant world back to life.
The crown jewel of the celebrations is the exhibition “At Home with Jan Steen – 400 Years of Merrymaking” (Thuis bij Jan Steen – 400 jaar leven in de brouwerij), currently running at Museum De Lakenhal from April 2 through August 23, 2026. The showcase offers an intimate look at Steen’s personal environment, exploring how his wives, children, friends, and the local pub served as the primary inspirations for his world-famous paintings.
The exhibition is a major cultural draw, featuring a mix of beloved favorites from the museum’s own collection and rare loans from the Rijksmuseum, Mauritshuis, and Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen. Among the highlights is the recently rediscovered De meidans (The Maid’s Dance), one of Steen’s earliest works, and a striking portrait of his second wife, Maria van Egmond, depicted as the biblical Bathseba—a piece that returns to Leiden for the first time since a 1926 exhibition. Visitors can also view Het Spaanse bruidje (The Spanish Bride) and the iconic Children Teaching a Cat How to Dance from the Rijksmuseum collection.
Beyond the gallery walls, the anniversary festivities extend across the region, turning the city into a living museum. Starting in early April 2026, the “Jan Steen Experience” opened at VVV Warmond, a town where the artist once resided. For those who prefer to explore on foot, a new themed walking tour titled “Jan Steen, Then and Now” will be available in late April 2026, guiding visitors through the Leiden landmarks depicted in his art.
The celebration also takes a more reflective turn at the Pieterskerk. As a native of Leiden who spent his final years near the church, Steen was interred in the family tomb near the choir in 1679. To mark the anniversary, a special presentation has been installed at the tombstone in the choir ambulatory, making the site of his final resting place more visible to the public.
By blending rare private collections with public installations, the anniversary events highlight Steen’s unique ability to find humor in the everyday. Although he may be viewed through a different lens than contemporaries like Rembrandt or Vermeer, this year’s celebrations cement his status as a master of human nature and the ultimate storyteller of the Dutch Golden Age.
