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.
Humour and humanity
With At Home with Jan Steen – 400 Years of Merrymaking, Museum De Lakenhal focuses on Steen's personal environment and the role of his hometown Leiden. The exhibition offers a surprising glimpse into everyday life in the 17th century and the humour and humanity that make his paintings so beloved. At Home with Jan Steen combines well-known favorites from the museum's own collection with masterpieces from Dutch museums and private collections. These include public favorites from, for example, the Rijksmuseum's Gallery of Honor, 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.
Friends and fine painters from Leiden
In addition to painting cheerful family scenes, Jan Steen was also a very talented artist. He was able to paint with both a loose touch and great refinement. For the latter, he drew inspiration from the work of the fine painters of Leiden, including his friends Frans van Mieris and Ary de Vois. At Home with Jan Steen displays Steen's own masterpieces alongside work by these famous Leiden contemporaries. Steen's history paintings depicting biblical and mythological stories are also featured. These paintings reveal a more serious side to Steen's artistry. Yet even here, Steen shows his satirical side. His trademark humorous wink remains ever-present.
Anniversary celebrations
Jan Steen's anniversary year is being widely celebrated in Leiden and Warmond, where Steen also lived for some time. A publication on the artist's life and work will accompany the exhibition. In addition to the exhibition in Museum De Lakenhal, there will also be a presentation about Jan Steen in the Pieterskerk. Especially for this occasion, his grave will be made visible again and illuminated. Various public activities are being organized by Leiden&Partners and the Stichting Jan Steendorp Warmond.
Dank
Thuis bij Jan Steen – 400 jaar leven in de brouwerij wordt mede mogelijk gemaakt door Gemeente Leiden, Blockbusterfonds, Lucas van Leyden Mecenaat, M.A.O.C. Gravin van Bylandt Stichting, Vereniging van Belangstellenden in Museum De Lakenhal, J.E. Jurriaanse Stichting, De Gijselaar-Hintzenfonds, Boekenfonds Elisabeth Grent / F.J.A.M. van der Helm en de rijksoverheid: de Rijksdienst voor het Cultureel Erfgoed heeft namens de Minister van Onderwijs, Cultuur en Wetenschap een indemniteitsgarantie toegekend.