Pieterskerk prepares for Dies Natalis

06 February 2020

Pieterskerk and Leiden University are closely connected. The University was founded in Pieterskerk and to this day we celebrate that at the University’s annual Dies Natalis. Much has to be done to get the church ready for this special day. A photo series behind the scenes.

Pieterskerk staff set out the chairs: about 1,300 of them in under four hours.
Dies Natalis is a perfect moment to draw attention to new University publications. For instance, the 'About us' brochure, with a circulation of 11,500.
Fifteen lights are aimed at the stage. Each has an output of two kilowatts.
Visitors to the Dies Natalis receive a goody bag afterwards. These all have to be filled beforehand: 800 hundred of them for Dutch speakers and another 200 for English speakers.
The stage isn't a permanent fixture in the church, so it has to be built before the Dies Natalis.
This heavy lectern can normally be found in the Academy Building, but for the Dies Natalis it's moved to Pieterskerk.
Bibi van den Berg and Aske Plaat practise their lecture the day before the Dies Natalis.