Sermon by the Layman X Gouda Museum

They shape a church service with words, reflection, and music, sharing their personal message about faith and what gives them strength in turbulent times. The new series of sermons ties in with the exhibition Faith, treasures from the Rijksmuseum through today's eyes, at Museum Gouda. Preek van de Leek (Sermon by a Layman) will take place on Sunday, March 22, April 19, and May 17 at 4:00 p.m.

Femke Haijtema 1st in series
Femke Haijtema will kick off the series on March 22 with a personal sermon about the value of historical awareness. Femke is director of Museum Gouda, where the exhibition Faith is currently on display. With live music by cellist Mariëlle Rijkaart. Naema Tahir takes over with a story about beauty and goodness. Naema is a human rights lawyer, university lecturer, writer, and one of the guest curators of the Faith exhibition. Dace Satre Sietina will conclude the series on May 17 with a reflection on growing up under the Soviet regime, where faith was forbidden and punishable by law. Dace is an artist and collected stories and objects from 31 Gouda residents for Faith.


The Gouda Preekvan de Leek is an initiative of the Federatie Gouda, a liberal religious community that finds its inspiration where Christianity, compassion, and culture intersect. Around 20 lay preachers with ties to the city of Gouda have spoken there in the past. The Layman's Sermon begins at 4 p.m. in the Sint-Joostkapel (Lage Gouwe 134) and lasts about an hour. It will be followed by drinks. As with a regular church service, admission is free and reservations are not required.

Exhibition '
' (Faith – Treasures from the Rijksmuseum through today's eyes) From February 14 to August 20, 2026, Museum Gouda will host the exhibition 'Geloof – Schatten uit het Rijks door de ogen van nu' (Faith – Treasures from the Rijksmuseum through today's eyes), about the human need for stability and meaning. Three well-known thinkers from different backgrounds put together the exhibition: writer Arnon Grunberg, writer and presenter Stephan Sanders, and Naema Tahir. They got access to the collection of the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam and picked over forty objects that together reflect on the meaning of faith in today's world.