Page 39 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - The Netherlands

THE NE THERLANDS THROUGH THE Y EAR  37

music, funfairs, street fairs
and performances by
international artists.
Sloepenrace (Boat Regatta).
A regatta from Harlingen
to Terschelling.
Jazz in Duketown (around
Whitsun), ’s-Hertogenbosch.
Four days of open-air high-
quality jazz and blues bands
at various venues in town.
The beer flows freely.
Summer
Summer in the Netherlands is
a time of major cultural events.
These include the Holland The increasingly popular boat race to Terschelling
Festival in Amsterdam, the
Theater a/d Werf in Utrecht, Helder. A chance to see frigates, Zomercarnaval (Summer
the Parade (Amsterdam, submarines, torpedo boats Carnival) (last Sat in Jul),
Utrecht, The Hague, Rotterdam), and mine hunters belonging Rotterdam. A lively Caribbean
and the Haagse Zomer in The to the Netherlands Navy, with carnival with exotic music,
Hague. And if theatre is not spectacular shows put on by plenty to eat and drink and
your favourite pastime, there the Netherlands Marines. a swirling procession.
are plenty of other activities
to keep you entertained. July August
Oud Limburgs Schuttersfeest Gay Pride (first weekend in Aug),
June (Marksman’s Festival) (first Sun Amsterdam. One of the very
Holland Festival (3 weeks in Jul). The annual tournament best Prides in the world; the
of Jun), venues by the marksmen of highlight is the Canal Parade.
throughout Limburg is a colourful Mosselfeesten (Mussel Festivals)
Amsterdam and major folk event held in the (third Sat in Aug), Yerseke; (last
cities. A varied hometown of the previous weekend in Aug), Philippine.
programme of concerts, year’s winner. Harvest festival presenting the
plays, opera and ballet. North Sea Jazz (mid-Jul), new crops of Zeeland.
Aaltjesdag (Eel Day) Rotterdam. A three-day Preuvenemint (last weekend in
(second Sat in Jun), spectacle widely acknowl- Aug), Maastricht. Flamboyant
Harderwijk. Major edged as the world’s largest festival of food and drink at
fishing celebration jazz festival, featuring the historical Vrijthof.
in this former harbour performances by the Uitmarkt (last weekend in Aug),
on the Zuider Zee. biggest names in jazz. Amsterdam. Festive opening
Oerol Festival (mid- Herring-eating Tilburgse kermis (Tilburg of the theatre season with
Jun), Terschelling. by hand Fair) (end Jul). One of the perfor mances and information
This alternative biggest and most exuberant booths. There is also a book
cultural festival lasts for ten fairs in Holland, with a special fair, where literary publishers
days, with clowns, street gay Pink Monday. are represented.
theatre, acrobats, pop concerts
and music from around
the world.
Poetry International (mid-Jun),
Rotterdam. Prestigious poetry
festival featuring an inter-
national programme, in
Rotterdam’s Doelen district.
Pasar Malam Besar (second half
of Jun), The Hague. This festival
of Indonesian music and dance,
shadow puppets, cooking
demonstrations and colourful
eastern market takes place at
Malieveld in The Hague.
Nationale Vlootdagen (Navy
days) (end Jun/early Jul), Den North Sea Jazz, one of the world’s major jazz events

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