14. Museum Gouda and the garden of the museum
During Gouda by Candlelight, the Museum Garden transforms into a cozy winter village. Gather together in a wintery, cozy atmosphere at the outdoor bar with mulled wine, hot chocolate, and warm rolls, or in the tent with various performances! The Museum Garden is a wonderful location to visit during Gouda by Candlelight and drift away in the Christmas atmosphere. Enjoy our centuries-old walled garden; one of the most beautiful (and hidden) winter gardens in Gouda, with a view of the monumental St. John’s Church!
Garden of the museum
2:45 PM – 3:15 PM
Christmas with the children of Ridderslag! Classes 4, 5, and 6 will sing various Christmas carols under the direction of Christine de Graaf. Come listen and enjoy modern and traditional carols and get into the Christmas spirit.
3:30 PM – 4:15 PM
Vlister Zangers bring the joyful note. The shanty and sing-along choir with forty singers and six musicians has been creating fun and camaraderie since 2003.
5:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Luna Zeller & friends (Anne, Frederique, and Iris) will enchant the audience with a special dance performance. In an atmospheric mix of choreography and freestyle, they deliver an expressive dance full of light, emotion, and movement. Immerse yourself in their story, where spontaneity and ensemble come together.
6:15 PM – 7:00 PM
At Christian dance school LA VIVE, dancing to Christian music is central, without any pressure to perform. They want children and young people to truly be children, have fun, and make lifelong friends. They do this based on three core values: safety, identity, and friendship.
8:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Vocal group Twelve brings light music to life with six-part harmony and enchanting harmonies. This Utrecht a cappella group, led by Tijs Krammer, gives Christmas carols a new lease on life with our unique arrangements.
Vlister Zangers
Vocal group Twelve
Museum exhibition ‘Ongehoord’
4:00 PM – 4:15 PM and 5:00 PM – 5:15 PM
Asmae Amaddaou (born 2001) is a writer, poet, and spoken word artist.
She graduated from the HKU University of the Arts Utrecht (HKU), was selected for the Dutch Foundation for Literature’s Slow Writing Lab, and, in collaboration with the literary organization Mooie Woorden (Beautiful Words), created a trilogy about power.
She has previously performed at the Nacht van de Poëzie (Night of Poetry), the Royal Theatre, the Dutch National Opera and Ballet, and Paradiso. She also made her television debut with the Vrouwejaars Conference.
Last November, she signed with De Bezige Bij for her debut poetry collection. The work, an ode to the many forms of love and violence in the diaspora, will be published in the spring of 2026.
Tussen de werken van de tentoonstelling Ongehoord zal ze zich samen met trompetist Ine van Gils laten horen.
Museum Gasthuiskapel
3:30 PM – 4:30 PM
Tjomme and Nano are two musicians who have been making music together for years. With vocals and guitar, they bring a unique blend of blues and funk, often with their own surprising twist on well-known songs. Their chemistry and musicality make for a relaxed live experience. Let yourself be carried away by their rhythms and grooves. Don’t miss it – a perfect afternoon full of music.
5:15 PM – 6:15 PM
The Rotterdam duo Sommerhûs blends elements of pop, classical music, folk, and avant-garde into their own unique sound. On their most recent album, Rubix, Sommerhus somewhat relaxed the familiar duo chemistry that characterized their previous albums. The intimate songs with razor-sharp harmonies from previous albums remained, but singer/guitarist Vera Jessen-Juhrend and singer/double bassist Peter Jessen ventured out into the world with new compositions, featuring a selection of guest musicians.
8:00 PM – 9:00 PM
Anne-Roos Broekhuizen, winner of the Young Talent Jazz Battle in Gouda, is a rising jazz vocalist in the Netherlands. She combines classical jazz with a warm, soulful sound and poetic lyrics. Last year, she graduated from the Codarts Conservatory in Rotterdam.
Tjomme en Nano
Sommerhûs
Emma Huijzer
Ali Esrail
Johan Draait
Museum ‘t Ruim
2:30 – 3:15 PM
Amidst the centuries-old militia paintings, 21-year-old Emma Huijzer dances. Emma dances at the Marcella ballet school. She was also there last year with a self-made dance. Enjoy the unique combination of 17th-century painting and modern ballet.
3:30 – 4:30 PM
Ali Esrail is a singer-songwriter—or, as he himself would say, a fool who dreams—from Gouda. During the day he delivers groceries, and in the evenings he writes songs that move in the space between melancholy, hope, playfulness, and honesty. Inspired by songwriters like Alex Turner and Matt Bellamy, his music digs into the (muddy) depths of the intimate atmosphere.
5:00 – 9:00 PM
Candlelight burns outside. In the atmospheric acoustics of ‘t Ruim, Johan Draait record player spins. Drawing from his contemporary collection, he presents a surprising mix of contemporary jazz, pop and neoclassical music.