17. Museum Gouda en Museumtuin
During Gouda by Candlelight, the Museum Garden transforms into a cozy winter village. Gather in the festive atmosphere at the outdoor bar with mulled wine, hot chocolate, and warm sandwiches, or in the tent featuring various performances! The Museum Garden is a delightful spot to visit during Gouda by Candlelight, where you can immerse yourself in the magical Christmas ambiance. Enjoy our centuries-old walled garden—one of Gouda’s most beautiful (and hidden) winter gardens—with a stunning view of the monumental Sint-Jan church!
Museumtuin
14.45 – 15.15
Christmas with the children of primary school De Ridderslag! Students from grades 4, 5, and 6 will sing various Christmas songs under the direction of Christine de Graaf. Come and listen to a mix of modern and traditional Christmas carols and let yourself be immersed in the festive spirit!
15.30 – 16.30
The 22-year-old shanty and sing-along choir Vlister Zangers from Haastrecht brings joy to events with lively performances. Vlister Zangers has been a beloved regular at Gouda by Candlelight for many years.
Singing is healthy and brings happiness, a fact reaffirmed by the enthusiastic reactions of their audiences time and again. With great enthusiasm, they rehearse weekly to prepare for regular performances at parties, festivals, anniversaries, and birthdays. They feel at home anywhere—be it at companies, fairs, sports events, or other festivities. They also love to bring a cheerful touch to care facilities for residents, their families, and caregivers. In short, they are a perfect fit for all kinds of events and groups who appreciate the joy of singing.
Conductor Leo Jongerius often adds humor to their performances, making audiences laugh with remarks like, “Just don’t sing louder than us,” and charming banter that draws everyone into their musical journeys.
The shanty and sing-along choir, consisting of around 45 singers, performs an extensive repertoire of popular songs. They are accompanied live by an enthusiastic combo featuring accordions, drums, rhythm guitar, and banjo.
17.00 – 18.00
This year, the Gouda band WUM is performing once again. They’ll play at two locations, offering their unique blend of SwingPopCountryJazzBlues—a diverse repertoire of warm, acoustic songs. And of course, they’ll include a selection of Christmas tunes!
20.00 – 21.00
VoxPop was founded in September 2015 by Mariela Añazco. Anyone who loves music and wants to sing pop songs is welcome to join. VoxPop is an incredibly accessible choir—no voice test, no audition, and no need to read sheet music.
At the same time, the choir strives to continually improve under the guidance of Mariela, their conductor. For each song, you can switch voice parts, so you always sing what feels right for you. With the materials and audio tracks provided, you can practice at home at your own pace.
Vlister Zangers
VoxPop
Museum Arntzeniuszaal
17.00 – 18.00
The violist Laurens Moreno will perform on December 13 in front of the painting De Gezusters (The Sisters), which features her great-grandmother Dora and her sister Liesbeth, immortalized by W.B. Tholen. She will play in the Salon Arntzenius of Museum Gouda, accompanied by guitarist Tatakh Huismans.
Laurens studied viola under Esther Apituley at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam. Her musical taste spans a wide range, from classical and light music to Hungarian gypsy music. Tatakh Huismans studied classical guitar at the conservatory with Dick Visser, a leading figure in the field of classical guitar.
Museum Gasthuiskapel
15.30 – 16.30
Gerben Budding (pipe organ) and Wendy Barten (flute) will perform various classical and baroque works between the ancient altar pieces.
17.30 – 18.30
The Rotterdam duo Sommerhûs blends elements of pop, classical music, folk, and avant-garde into their own unique sound. On their latest album Rubix, Sommerhûs somewhat celebrated the familiar duo chemistry that characterized their previous albums. The intimate songs with tight harmonies from earlier works remain, but this time, singer and guitarist Vera Jessen-Juhrend and singer and double bassist Peter Jessen ventured into new compositions, featuring a range of guest musicians.
20.00 – 21.00
Especially for Gouda by Candlelight, Droominee (Rik Zutphen, spoken word) and Jamie de Heus (dance) have created a unique performance about the magic in the dark just before the light appears. The place from which light can be born is empty, without expectation or form, and from there, something new begins to sprout. A mystical journey through dance, spoken word, and live looping. Jamie and Rik are collaborating for the third time in one year.
Jamie de Heus is a dancer with a raw and powerful movement style. With a contemporary flair, she plays with dynamics, musicality, and storytelling. She works with Dalton Jansen and graduated from the Fontys Academy.
Rik Zutphen, better known as Droominee, is originally from Gouda. He is a spoken word performer who layers sounds live to create rhythm and atmosphere. Words are brought to life with passion and can be felt.
Sommerhûs
de Droominee en Jamie de Heus
Miss Starling
Museum ’t Ruim
14.30 – 15.30
Winner of the Amsterdam Pop Prize 2024!
With a fairy-tale appearance and a unique voice, Miss Starling creates her own little universe. Her electronic indie-pop songs are described as fresh, catchy, and dreamy. With her charming personality, she always delivers a sparkling performance.
17.00 – 20.00
Johan Draait plays great records from his large vinyl collection in an atmospheric setting. The feet are allowed to hit the floor!