In De Slaapwetenschapper, one of the Netherlands’ leading sleep scientists, Merijn van de Laar, takes you into the fascinating world of sleep and dreams.

Through surprising scientific insights, recognisable stories and personal experiences, he shows how sleep works and why it is such an essential, mysterious and sometimes even comical part of our lives. It is a theme that touches and fascinates us all: sleep. Because however differently we sleep, almost everyone starts the day with the same question: “How did you sleep?”

Merijn van de Laar studied neuropsychology at Maastricht University. He wrote the international bestseller Slapen als een oermens, published in more than twenty countries. In October 2026, his new book will be released, in which he explains dreams from a scientific perspective—an important theme in this theatre lecture.

In the Universiteit van Nederland Live format, science is not just a lecture, but an experience: live, personal and stimulating. This time, with sleep scientist Merijn van de Laar.