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5 minutes readMarch
The blossoming of Keukenhof Park
- When: 21 March – 10 May
- Where: Keukenhof Park (located around 30 minutes from Amsterdam/The Hague/Haarlem)
During this time in this famous Dutch park, you can admire the roses, hyacinths, tulips, irises, and orchids. Over 7 million bulbs are grown here every year.
April
Bloemencorso flower parade
- When: 25-26 April
- Where: The parade starts in the town of Noordwijk
The parade traditionally starts in the town of Noordwijk and ends the next day in Haarlem. The most spectacular part of the parade consists of gigantic flower figures on huge floats that are joyfully welcomed and photographed in every town throughout the procession.
King’s Day
- When: 27 April
- Where: Throughout the country
King’s Day or Queen’s Day is celebrated every year throughout the country. As you may guess, the date is the monarch’s birthday. The locals dress up in national orange costumes, visit fairs, sell unwanted items at boot-fairs, and attend street concerts.
May
Liberation Day
- When: 5 May
- Where: In Amsterdam and throughout the country
This day commemorates when Holland was liberated from Nazi occupation. The most widespread celebrations are held in the capital, Amsterdam. During the day, they put on pop and rock concerts, while in the evening they go partying along the banks of the Amstel.
June
Herring Day, or Flag Day
- When: 11 June
- Where: The Hague, Scheveningen
Herring has long become a symbol of the Netherlands, together with bicycles and tulips, so it should come as no surprise that it has a celebration of its own. On this day, the first herring catch of the year is unloaded in the port of Scheveningen, and the port itself is decorated with garlands.
During the festivities, you can eat enough herring (and cod and eels) to last an entire year, and as each sandwich is decorated with the national flag, the holiday has a second name: Flag Day.
Open Garden Days
- When: 12-14 June
- Where: Amsterdam
An interesting event during which you can take walks in closed gardens along the canals. When the canals were being built, gardens with gazebos and outhouses were planned alongside houses, where inhabitants could meet up, drink tea and relax. You may buy a ticket for all three days on the official site — you may use this ticket to visit as many gardens as you have time for.
Фото: joannapg/Shuttertock
PINKPOP music festival
- When: 19-21 June
- Where: Landgraaf
This rock music festival will be held for the 33rd time in 2020. This time performers will include Red Hot Chili Peppers, Guns N’ Roses, Post Malone, Twenty One Pilots, and Keane.
Фото: Ben Houdijk/Shutterstock
July
Rotterdam Unlimited
- When: 21-25 July
- Where: Rotterdam
This festival is a mixture of dancing, musical, and theatrical events. The most famous of these events are the battle of drums, street parades, the election of a queen, and a tropical party held at the weekend.
August
Festival of Canals
- When: 9-18 August
- Where: Amsterdam
Classical music plays throughout the city on these days. You may hear concerts in parks, on canals, in museums and even in hotels. There are both free and to be paid events, so you won’t be able to say no.
Фото: Wut_Moppie/Shutterstock
International Fireworks Festival
- When: 9-17 August
- Where: The Hague, Scheveningen
According to the rules, countries participating in this festival, all have to spend exactly the same amount on their pyrotechnical show, and the show cannot last over 13 minutes. The shows are held on the beach of Scheveningen every evening, and during the breaks, you may watch performances by jugglers and fire eaters, or listen to music.
September
Kite Festival
- When: 28-29 September
- Where: The Hague, Scheveningen
An entire show in the skies, where the main roles are played by kites of all shapes and sizes. Professionals descend on this festival from all corners of the world to take part in competitions and demonstrate the wonders of synchronized flights accompanied by music and other tricks. You may fly your own kites on the beach that you can first make at master classes.
Фото: pluut/Shutterstock
October
Dutch Design Week
- When: 17-25 October
- Where: Eindhoven
Eindhoven is known as a center of contemporary art and design, so it’s perfectly logical for Dutch Design Week to be held here. Over 300 events are hosted all over the city, including exhibitions with wacky installations that are quite unlikely to appear anywhere else any time soon.
November
Light Festival
- When: 28 November – 19 January
- Where: Amsterdam
We miss colors and light in late autumn, so this festival in Amsterdam solves that problem. Amazing installations, glowing canals, wacky constructions on the city streets — artists descend here from all corners of the Earth to demonstrate their creations.
To really get a feel for the festival you can order a trip — the guide will tell you in detail about the main exhibits and their history.
December
Sinterklaas
- When: 5 December
- Where: Amsterdam
Sinterklaas is a local Santa Claus, and this festival officially opens the winter season in the country. Sinterklaas arrives from Spain surrounded by dark-skinned servants. He then climbs on the back of a snow-white horse by the National Maritime Museum in Amsterdam and heads for the city center.
A parade is held in Sinterklaas’s honor, and boats and barges travel along the canals to escort him. This Santa Claus meets the Mayor on Dam Square and announces the start of a festive concert. The Christmas season is considered open from then on.
If one of these events occurs during your client’s trip, then tell them in advance, so that they get the chance to join one of these fun, colorful festivals. You may read about RateHawk’s countries of the month in more detail here.
