EL CID week: the final days

All good things have to come to an end, including the EL CID week. Last Friday the final day started with a large-scale champagne brunch and ended with a fantastic closing party.

Not too early

After the pub crawl through Leiden and various parties at the student associations, Thursday evening turned out to be rather late. Fortunately the EL CID participants didn't have to get up too early Friday morning: brunch didn't start until noon.

Street theatre, barbecue and closing party

In the afternoon it was time for I love Leiden, with different street artists doing singing, dancing and juggling acts around the Pieterskerk. Then it was time for the barbecue at the Hooglandse Kerk: great food and a stunning location with some lively music in the background. Student band Phoenix Fund Foundation was the main feature of the closing party in dance club Casa where the dancing continued until the small hours.

Naked painting

On Thursday, the first-years exercised their brains with Mind Mapping and their muscles with Body Building. First there were workshops on speed reading, debating or the relationship between sex and study results, and then over to the University Sport Centre for a lesson in beach volleyball, zumba or wushu. Or just have fun with some frisbee throwing. During Destination Unknown there was the chance to get to know Leiden from different perspectives: a boat tour, a pub quiz, a visit to a museum or even a course in naked painting were just some of the things on offer.

Leiden's First-years' Festival with DJ Lucien Foort (photo: Alex le Clercq)

A look back at the week's events

The week began on Monday 13 August in the morning in the traditional way, with a gathering on the Beestemarkt, but the official start took place at the Hooglandse Kerk in the afternoon. The members of the EL CID committee arrived in the church in a white stretch limo, all dressed as pilots or stewardesses. Very appropriate, since the name of the event is ‘Take off’. Mayor Henri Lenferink introduced the brand-new students in a humorous way to the wondrous world of Leiden popular festivals. Then it was Rector Paul van der Heijden’s turn to treat his public to an extensive welcome speech.

The members of the EL CID committee arrived in the church in a white stretch limo (photo: J.P. Kranenbrug)

Chairmen’s debate

On Monday night, PvdA Member of Parliament and former Minister of Education, Culture and Science Ronald Plasterk opened and led the chairmen’s debate. The chairmen of the five largest student associations crossed swords on a multitude of topics. In this way the students could get a better idea of the associations and choose which one suited them best.