Cultural Events

Leek is a small town in the province of Groningen, in the area known as the Westerkwartier, and its cultural life is centred on the Nienoord estate. The cultural life of the town is a calendar of events rather than a single attraction: festivals, markets, concerts and exhibitions that come and go through the year. Because the programme changes from season to season, visitors should look up what is on during their stay and not rely on a fixed schedule.

The estate is the best known setting. Nienoord is a country estate with a manor house, parkland and gardens on the edge of Leek, and it hosts events that suit its historic setting, including concerts, outdoor gatherings and themed days. The Museum Nienoord, which is devoted to horse-drawn carriages and is one of the best known collections of its kind in the Netherlands, sometimes holds special days that bring the vehicles out of the halls. The Family Park Nienoord, a leisure park on the grounds, adds to the picture for families with children, and the whole estate is also known as Landgoed Nienoord.

Beyond the estate, the town and the surrounding countryside have their own occasions. Local festivals are sometimes held beside the Leekstermeer, the lake just outside town, with music and food stalls. Spring and autumn fairs and the regular weekly market give the centre a livelier look on certain days, and local clubs organise exhibitions and workshops. As in many Dutch towns, community groups play a large role in what happens, and events are often announced locally through posters, websites and the tourist office.

The Reformed Church is another landmark that sometimes figures in the cultural calendar, since church buildings in the Netherlands are frequently used for concerts and exhibitions. Together these places form a small cultural circuit that can be walked or cycled within an afternoon. The flat Groningen countryside makes for easy cycling, with fields, farms and wide skies.

This stop suits visitors who like to see local life in action, families looking for a day out on the estate and anyone who wants to combine a countryside walk with a concert or fair. Check dates carefully before planning around a particular event, since small-town festivals can change their dates or format from year to year.