2 April until 23 August 2026

At Home with Jan Steen – 400 Years of Merrymaking

With the exhibition At Home with Jan Steen – 400 Years of Merrymaking, Museum De Lakenhal celebrates Jan Steen's 400th birthday. In this exhibition, you will discover how the Leiden artist used his children, spouses, friends and pub as inspiration for his paintings. The exhibition offers a surprising glimpse into everyday life in the 17th century and the humour and humanity that make his paintings so beloved. Through his works and those of other artists of his time, you will embark on a journey of discovery through Steen's world full of humour, chaos and hidden messages.

Masterpieces from Dutch collections

The exhibition features well-known masterpieces such as De Piskijker and Sint-Nicolaasfeest. At Home with Jan Steen combines familiar favourites from the museum's own collection with masterpieces from Dutch museums and private collections. These include public favourites from the Mauritshuis and the Rijksmuseum's Gallery of Honour, as well as works from collections that are rarely seen by the public.

Jan Steen's children

Children often play a prominent role in Jan Steen's work. He was uniquely skilled at depicting the innocence, joy and sadness of children in a lifelike manner. Steen did not have to look far for inspiration for his scenes featuring children: as the father of a large family, he found plenty of inspiration at home. His own family often served as models.

The exhibition also includes texts written by pupils from the Lucas van Leyden primary school in Leiden. They describe what strikes them about the paintings and whether, 400 years later, they recognise things from their own daily lives.

For more information and the activity programme, visit lakenhal.nl/jansteen.