Saturday 20 September

Huygens! A musical evening with La Sfera Armoniosa and the Huygens Institute

Discover the multifaceted life of Constantijn Huygens in a musical performance of words, images and scents during the Huygens Festival 2025. This 17th-century figure was not only a well-known diplomat and secretary to three stadtholders, but also a talented poet, musician, art critic, architect and scientist. Until recently, it was unknown that he was also a passionate perfumer: 150 recipes written by him have recently been discovered.

Many female friends

It is striking that Constantijn Huygens had many female contacts. This programme also focuses on those relationships that played a central role throughout his long life. Stories and images show how he and his female friends influenced each other’s lives.

Scent experience

The programme features music from Huygens’ own compositions and those of his musical contacts, such as Lanier, Foscarini, Ban and Van Eyck. A unique audiovisual scent experience that brings Huygens and his time to life.

Speaker: Ineke Huysman (Huygens Institute)
Music: La Sfera Armoniosa (with Lette Vos, soprano; Paulina van Laarhoven, viola da gamba; Mike Fentross, theorbo and baroque guitar

Tickets and more information

Visit the Huygens Festival 2025 website.

Constantijn Huygens and his clerk.