SEEING STARS
Bring the stars back to your street.
More than 80% of the world’s population lives under light-polluted skies, preventing us from experiencing the beauty of the stars. But there is a solution.
SEEING STARS is a collaboration between residents, the government, UNESCO Netherlands, and Studio Roosegaarde to switch off all non-essential lights, billboards, and streetlights. By removing light pollution on a city-wide scale, SEEING STARS allows everyone to reconnect with the universe and experience the magic of starlight. Public safety is ensured in close collaboration with local authorities.
Launched in Franeker and Leiden, SEEING STARS aims to expand to cities like Sydney, Venice, Stockholm, and Reykjavik. It fosters a sense of connection, not only with our community but also with our planet.
“Everyone should have the right to see the stars. This is the communal and universal heritage I strive for,” says Kathleen Ferrier, Chairperson of the Netherlands Commission for UNESCO.
In 2021 and 2022, the cities of Franeker in Friesland and Leiden, the Netherlands, participated in SEEING STARS, a controlled switching-off of city and non-essential lights. Public safety was ensured through close collaboration with local government.
Studio Roosegaarde collaborated with UNESCO Netherlands, Visit Friesland, Visit Wadden, Media.Monks, and the city of Franeker to realize this project. The mayor of Leiden partnered with Studio Roosegaarde to bring SEEING STARS to Leiden as part of the Leiden European City of Science 2022 supported by Frans Snik of Sterrenwacht Leiden.
"For one night, citizens in Leiden will restore natural darkness and reveal the stars overhead. SEEING STARS is just the beginning. At a time of energy crisis, climate crisis, and biodiversity loss, embracing dark skies through better quality lighting year-round is a simple step all cities must take." — Ruskin Hartley, Executive Director of the International Dark-Sky Association.
“Everyone is now in their own little bubble, disconnected from each other. I realized that every night, there’s an amazing light performance hidden up high in the sky. SEEING STARS brings the stars back to your street. The stars are one switch away.” — Daan Roosegaarde, artist.
“I am so proud to switch off all the lights in our city, see the stars, and feel connected.” — Marga Waanders, Mayor of Franeker.
UNESCO, Nacht van het Wad, Earth Hour, Nacht van de Nacht, and the International Dark-Sky Association have long advocated for moments of darkness to improve human and animal well-being. SEEING STARS is part of this movement, a radical premiere focused on viewing stars in your city. It contributes to the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals and reflects the rich astronomical history of Franeker and Leiden.
SEEING STARS Leiden took place on September 25, 2022 between 22.00 till 23.30. Visit www.seeingstarsleiden.nl for all information.
SEEING STARS is available for other cities as a site-specific exhibition, and aims to travel to cities such as Sydney, Venice, Stockholm, and Reykjavik.
SEEING STARS is the third project in the series DreamScapes, in which a dream is turned into reality to create a better world. Movie by Media.Monks with Jan Kooyman, KAOS Amsterdam and Studio Roosegaarde.
SEEING STARS Franeker photography is by Albert Dros and Merel Tuk. SEEING STARS Leiden photography by Ossip van Duivenbode, Dirk van Egmond, Raymond Rutting, and Rutger Bus.
Select Exhibitions
SEEING STARS Franeker
December 14, 2021
SEEING STARS Leiden
September 25, 2022
Exhibitions
October 19, 2022
SEEING STARS: Leiden's Collaboration to Restore the Night Sky
A unique collaboration between Daan Roosegaarde, the city of Leiden, and its mayor, working together to bring the stars back to the night skies of Leiden in SEEING STARS.
Exhibitions
September 29, 2022
A UNESCO Collaboration to Restore the Stars
SEEING STARS is our new collaboration with UNESCO and the city of Franeker, aiming to bring back the stars to your own street as our universal heritage.
Exhibitions
September 29, 2022
Bringing Back the Stars: A Vision by Daan Roosegaarde
"How can we bring back the stars in our cities?" wondered Daan Roosegaarde. "Everyone should have the right to see the stars." This was the beginning of SEEING STARS.