Six-day indoor cycling event, Ahoy Hall: World Indoor Soccer Championships
End January
Rotterdam
Rotterdam Film Festival
FEBRUARY
Beg. February
Apeldoon (Gelderland)
International Midwinter Marathon
Beg. February
Utrecht
International Motorcross cycle races
February
Mainly in the south of Holland, Provinces of Limburg and N. Brabant
Pre-Lent Carnival celebrations with parades, Especially Breda, Maastricht and Den Bosch
February - March
Rotterdam
ABN-AMRO World Tennis Tournament, Ahoy Hall
Mid-February
Bovenkarspel (North Holland)
West Friesland Flora, flower show and home exhibit
mid-February
The Hague (South Holland)
European Indoor Athletic Championships Houtrust
End-February - March
Amsterdam (North Holland)
HISWA, international watersport and boat show, RAI
MARCH
mid-March
Amsterdam
Blues Festival, Meervaart: International Chess Tournament
Mid-March
Maastricht (Limburg)
Picture Fine Art & Antique Fair
mid-March – April (Easter)
All over
Performances of Bach’s St Matthew’s Passion, Check Amsterdam, Nijkerk??, Haarlem, Maastricht, Den Bosch, Gouda, Leiden
March
Breda (Brabant)
International Art and Antiques Fair, Turfschip
End March – May
Lisse (South Holland)
Keukenhof, National Open-air flower exhibition. Bulbfields in bloom.
End March-April
The Hague (South Holland)
Scheveningen City-Pier-City Run, Lange Voorhout (Half marathon)
End March-April
Zandvoort (North holland)
International Easter Motor Races
End March – May
Vogelenzang (South Holland)
Tulip Show flowers in gardens and hothouses at Frans Roozen Nursery
APRIL
1 April
Brielle (South Holland)
Folkloric celebration of the trouncing of Spanish by the ‘water beggars’
Beg. April
Amsterdam (North holland)
Head of the River, rowing races, river Amstel
April-September
Rotterdam (South holland)
City tours in old tram plus tour of docks. Central Station
April-October
Amsterdam
Electrical museum Tramline Amsterdam to Amstelveen every 20 mins. Haarlemmermeer Station
mid-April-May
Amsterdam
World Press Photo Exhibit, Nieuwe Kerk
mid-April
Rotterdam
Rotterdam International Marathon
mid-April- September
Alkmaar (North Holland)
Cheese market with bearers in historic guild uniforms, craft demonstrations Fridays 10-12 noon.
mid-April
Haarlem (North holland) to Noordwijk (South Holland)
Flower Parade in bulb growing districts. Route: Haarlem-Bennebroek-Hillegom-Lisse-Noordwijk. Decorated floats on view at Hobaho Halls, Lisse the day before the parade or in Noordwijk the day after the parade
April-May
Tiel (Gelderland)
Blossom Tour Route (fruit trees)
30 April
All over Holland
Celebration of the Queen’s birthday, a national holiday. Fairs, orgsan-grinders, flags and decorations especially in The Hague
MAY
4th May
All over
Remembrance Day of WWII dead
May
Noordoostpolder (Friesland)
Bulb Route, Emmeloord
May-September
Pieterburen area (Friesland)
Guided mud-flat walking to Schiermonnikoog and Ameland, Engelsmanplaat
May-September
The Hague (South Holland)
Antique and bric-a-brac market, Thurs 9am-9pm, Lange Voorhout
May-September
Amsterdam
Nieuwmarkt Antique market, Sundays 10am-4pm
May – mid-June
The Hague
Japenese Garden in full bloom, Clingendael Park 9am-8pm
2nd Saturday in May
Buren (Gelderland)
Annual picturesque market in medieval walled town
2nd Saturday in May
All over
National Windmill Day (windmills in action, many can be visited): and National Cycling Day
May-June
Island of Texel (North Holland)
Migration of birds to breeding grounds. Guided Tours
Early May
Breda (Brabant)
International Traditional Jazz Festival:street parades and open-air concerts
Beg. May
Amsterdam
International Marathon, Dam
mid-May
Breda
Breda Paard, International Military Horse Show
mid-May
Zandvoort (North Holland)
International Easter Motor Races
mid-May
Landgraaf (Limburg)
"Pinkpop" international open-air pop festival
mid-May
Den Bosch (Brabant)
Jazz in Duke Town
mid-May
Leeuwaarden (Friesland)
Frisian Elfsteden – Walking Tour through eleven towns
End May
Amsterdam
‘Kunstrai’ modern art exhibition in RAI and various galleries
End May
Scheveningen (South Holland), Urk (Friesland), Ijmuiden (North Holland)
Vlaggetjesdag, festooned herring fleet opens the season etc.
End May
Harlingen (Friesland)
Harlingen-Terschelling Sailing Race
End May
Delfzijl (Groningen)
Nepteune Festival, fair and International deep sea sailing races
End May
Veere (Zeeland)
International sailing regatta and folkloric costume show
End May
Margraten (Limburg)
Memorial Day Service, last weekend in May
JUNE
June-August
Amsterdam
Open-air theatre, concerts etc. in Vondelpark
June
Major cities
Holland Festival, cultural and musical events
June-August
Friesland
Most towns hold tilting competitions, old-Frisian costumes (Bolsward) and ‘Kaatsen’ handball competitions (Harlingen)
Beg. June
The Hague
Equestrian Event, Lange Voorhout
Beg. June
Scheveningen (South Holland)
Air Show, stunt flying and demonstrations
Beg. June
Ede (Gelderland)
Sheep shearing contest, old crafts, Ginkelse Heide
Beg. June
Apeldoorn ( Gelderland)
Jazz in the Woods, International traditional and modern jazz
Beg. June
Island of Texel (North Holland)
‘Ronde om Texel’ catamaran race from De Koog
mid-June
Scheveningen
International Kite Festival
mid-June
Haarlem (North Holland)
Barrel Organ Festival
mid-June
Rotterdam
Poetry International, International poetry festival, Doelen
mid-June
Groningen
Martini Regatta, International rowing competition, Eemskanaal
mid-June
Serooskerke (Zeeland)
Zeeland’s Horse Day, Manege de Eedracht
Late June
Warffum (Friesland)
Op Roakeldais, costumed international folkdance festival
Late June
Amsterdam
Dutch Open Championships, international rowing, Bosbaan
Late June
Assen (Drenthe)
International Dutch Motorcycling TT Grand Prix
Late June
Wassenaar (South Holland)
International Trotting, Low Countries Grand Prix
End June
Hoorn (North Holland)
Hartje Hoorn Market, folkdancers and old crafts, Wednesdays 9am-5pm
End June
Schagen (Friesland)
West Friesland Folk Market, procession of old Dutch carts, carriages, costumes, crafts, Thursdays 9am-2pm.
End June
The Hague
International Trotting Grand Prix, Duindigt
End June
Wassenaar (South Holland)
Park Pop, International pop festival
End June-July
Den Helder (North Holland)
National Fleet Day near the new harbour
End June-July
Scheveningen (South Holland)
World Championships Catamaran Races
June-August
Gouda (South Holland)
Old crafts, cheese and antique market, Thursdays 9am-1.30pm
June-September
The Hague
International Rose Show, Westbroek Park, 20,000 roses of more than 350 species
JULY
All July
Aalten (Gelderland)
Folkloric festivities and Klompendag, demonstrations of wooden -shoe making (only on last Thursday)
Beg. July
Amsterdam (North Holland)
International Theatre Festival and Ballet Festival in Muziektheatre
Beg. July
Zwolle (Overijssel)
Art and Antique Market and International "Schnitger" Organ Recitals, St Michael’s Church
Beg. July
Denekamp (Overijssel)
Sheepshearers’ traditional festival market, handicrafts, pancakes.
July & August
Frisian Lakes
Regatta with Skũtsjesilen. ‘Skũtsjes’ are unique boats formerly used in commerce, with black or brown sails, a flat bottomed wide body with large wooden lee boards
July-August
Friesland
Fierljeppen pole vaulting across canals, ring riding etc.
July-August
Bergen (North Holland)
Open air Art Fair, Fridays, 4-10pm. Traditional Craft Market, Wednesdays 9am-5pm
July-August
Hoorn (North holland)
Traditional Craft Market, Wed 9am-5pm
July-August
Barneveld (North Holland)
Balloon Fiesta. Also old Veluwse market with folkdancing. Thursday
July-August
Kinderdijk (South Holland)
Windmill Days, mills operating – one open for viewing. Boat trips Saturdays 1.30-5.30pm
July-August
Purmerend (North Holland)
Cheese market, Thursdays 11am-11pm
July-August
Gouda (South Holland)
Cheese and craft market, Wednesdays 9am-2pm
mid-July – August
Medemblik (North Holland)
Romantic Market, products broght by barges; every Saturday
mid-July
Warmond (South Holland)
International Sailing Week at De Kaag
mid-July
Middelburg (Zeeland)
Folklore Days, tilting at the ring, traditional costumes.
mid-July
Wassenaar (South Holland)
Horse Day, trotting races, Duindigt
mid-July
Leiden (South Holland)
‘Leiden Lakenfeesten’, open-air fol, festival
mid-July
Emmen, Hoogeveen and Assen (Drenthe)
Drenthe Four Day Tourist Cycling Event, 40,60,80 or 100km; sportpark Houtlaan, Assen
mid-July
Apeldoorn (Gelderland)
International Four Day Walking event
mid-July
The Hague
North Sea Jazz Festival: Fridays and Saturdays 6pm-4am, Sundays 2pm-1am, Congress Centre
mid-July
Hilversum (Utrecht)
International Dutch Tennis Championships, Het Melkhuisje
mid-July
Spakenburg (Utrecht)
Spakenburg Days, performances by folk dancers from all over the world.
mid-July
Brunssum (Lim burg)
Folklore parade, performances by folk dancers from all over the world
mid-July
Nijmegen (Gelderland)
Internaitonal Four Day Walk, 30, 40 and 50 kms pere day.
mid-July
Loosdrecht (Utrecht)
Holland Week, International sailing competitions and Loosdrecht Jazz Festival, Oud-Loosdrecht
End July
Hilversum (Utrecht)
KLM Golf Open Championship
End July
Chaam (Bradant)
Chaam Eight, professional cycling circuit
End July
Enkhuizen (North Holland)
Zuiderzee sailing, Thursdays, Barrel Organ competitions on Organ Day
End July
Joure (Friesland)
Re-creation of traditional Frisian farmer’s wedding, horse-drawn carts, bareback-riding etc.
End July
Scheveningen (South Holland)
Swinging Scheveningen, street parade, jazz and Dixieland concerts.
End July
Voorschoten (South Holland)
Traditional horse market
End July
Rotterdam (South Holland)
The Summer Carnival Street Parade snakes its way through the city
July-September
Vogelenzang (South Holland)
Summer Flower Show in gardens and greenhouses, Frans Roozen nursery
AUGUST
August
Amsterdam (North Holland) (every 5 years next in 2005)
Sail Amsterdam hosts thousands of ocean going vessels from around the world in a celebration that occurs every five years (the next is due in 2005)
Eary August
Stellendam (South Holland)
Delta Flora, summer flower show, at the Visafslag.
Early August
Rijnsburg (South Holland)
Flower Parade (Rijnsburg-Leiden-Noordwijk); Summer Flower Show in Auction Hall.
Early August
Sneek (Friesland)
Sneek Week, international sailing competitions
August
Amsterdam
International Football Tournament, Olympic Stadium
August
Rotterdam (South Holland)
International Football Tournament, Feijenoord Stadium, CHIO Horse Show, Kralingen woods.
August
Biddinghuizen (Flevoland)
Flevofestival of Gospel Music, Flevohof.
August
Yerseke, Breskens, Philippine (Zeeland)
Mussel Festival with Fair etc.
August
IJsselmeer (North Holland)
Flevo Race and "Westwal Botterfestival" Races of traditional Dutch fishing boats
mid-August
Leersum (Utrecht)
Central Holland Flower Parade
mid-August
Zaanse Schans (North Holland)
Annual Festival, traditional market, crafts, etc.
mid-August
Vlissingen (Zeeland)
Week long street festival
mid-August
Scheveningen (South Holland)
International Firework Festival
mid-August
Katwijk (South Holland)
Fishery Days and Flower Parade
mid-August
Heeze (Brabant)
Brabant Days, cultural/historical events with parade on last Sunday
mid-August
Delft (South Holland)
Jazz Festival and street Parade
mid-August
Winsum (Friesland)
"Fierljeppen" competitions, pole vaulting across canals.
mid-August
Ede (Gelderland)
Heather Parade and Festival with various activities
mid-August
Doorn (Utrecht)
Castle Tour with antique horse-drawn carriages.
End August
Breda (Brabant)
National Tattoo, military and civic bands on parade, Breda Castle, ‘Orangerie’ fair.
End August
Zeist (Utrecht)
Antique Automobile Parade
End August
Raalte (Overijssel)
"Stoppelhaene", harvest festival
End August
Valkenswaard (Brabant)
International Motor Rally Cross Championships
End August
Amsterdam
Uit Markt, Museumplein, Amstel mime, cultural shows.
Fishery Day Celebrations: various events, costumes, old ships
End August
Den Oever (North Holland)
Fishery Day anf Flower Festival
End August
Amersfoort (Utrecht)
"Keistadfeesten", various events, fair and tattoo
End August
Rhoon (South Holland)
Sound and Light, Rhoon Castle, Saturdays 9.30pm
End August – Sept 3
Aalsmeer to Amsterdam (North holland)
The annual Bloemencorso is a colourful parade of flowers and music and should not be missed.
SEPTEMBER
September
Amsterdam (North Holland)
Prinsengracht concert, Piano concerts aboard barges. Prinsengracht
September
Amsterdam
Pictura, art and antique fair, RAI
September
Amsterdam
Gaudeamus Music Week, and theatres
September
Rotterdam (South Holland)
Jazz Festival, various locations
1st Saturday of September
Aalsmeer to Amsterdam
Annual Floral Parade, Starts 9.30am at Aalsmeer Auction Hall, proceeds to Olympic Stadium, Amsterdam (1pm) and on to the Dam where the Queen inspects the numerous floats, decorated cars, bands with drum majorettes etc. Floats may be viewed in the Auction Hall the previous evening.
Beg. September
Gouda (South Holland)
Randstad Jazz Festival with street parade
Beg. September
Lelystad (Flevoland)
Air Show
Beg. September
Zundert (Brabant)
Flower Parade, market and street theatre
Beg. September
Kinderdijk (South Holland)
Illumination of windmill complex with boat trip to view mills, 9-10.30pm
mid-September
Valkenswaard (Brabant)
Flower Parade
mid-September
Tiel (Gelderland)
"Oogst en Fruitcorso", fruist and harvest parade with exhibit in auction hall.
mid-September
Valkenburg (South Holland)
Oldest horse market in the Nederland
mid-September
All over
Monument Day, most monuments and museums are open free of charge
mid-September
The Hague
Prinjesdag, State Opening of Parliament by HM the Queen who rides in resplendent horse-drawn golden coach from her Palace in the Noordeinde to the Binnenhof, where she delivers the Throne Speech to MPs and foreign diplomats in the Hall of Knights
mid-September
Middelburg (Zeeland)
City festival and fair
mid-September
Ede (Gelderland)
Airborne landing in commemoration of WWII parachute landings, Ginkelse Heide
mid-September
Nieuwe Niedorp (North Holland)
Flower Mosiac Days
mid-September
Enkhuizen (North Holland)
"Enkhuizen Klipperrace", sailing competition of clippers
mid-September
Breskens (Zeeland)
"Breskensweek", international sailing races of round and flat-bottomed boats
mid-September
Oosterbeek (Gelderland)
Tattoo and demonstration by paratroopers commemorating the 1944 airborne landings
mid-September
Rotterdam (South Holland)
Jazz Festival. Also Open Harbour Day, Europort
End September
Joure (Friesland)
Folklore Market
End September
Zaanse Schans (North Holland)
Eight active mills open with explanations from millers
End September
Breda (Brabant)
Four-in-Hand horse contest
End September
Groningen
"Groningen Ontzet", commemoration of the relief of Groningen in 1672. street festivities
OCTOBER
Early October
Leiden (South Holland)
Leidens Ontzet. Liberation of Leiden celebrated with historic parade
Early October
St. Oedenrode (Brabant)
Brabant Wooden Shoe Fair
Early October
Alkmaar (North Holland)
Alkmaar’s ontzet
Early October
Gouda (South Holland)
Antique fair
mid-October
Delft (South Holland)
Art and Antique Fair, Prinsenhof
mid-October
Oene (Gelderland)
"Koefeest", horse and cattle market
mid-October
Haarlem (North Holland)
Antique Fair
mid-October
Tilburg (Brabant)
Wine Festival
mid-October
Maastricht (Limburg)
Jazz Festival
mid-October
Zandvoort (North Holland)
International Windsurfing Event
mid-October
Zuidlaren (Drenthe)
Biggest Horse Market in Western Europe, Brink
mid-October
Scheveningen (South Holland)
International Beach Motorcycle Races
NOVEMBER
Early November
Zeist, Den Treek (Utrecht) & Someren
"St. Hubertus Slipjacht" - hunting with horses
mid-November
Maastricht (Limburg)
International Motorcycle rally events
mid-November
All over
St. Nicolas Celebrations. His official arrival
Last Thursday
Leiden (South Holland)
Commemorative Thanksgiving Day Service, St. Pieters Church
DECEMBER
December 2-January 6
Ootmarsum (Overijssel), Denekamp etc.
Midwinter Horn Blowing – folkloric tradition announcing birth of Christ
December 5
All over
Sr. Nicolas celebrations, especially for children
mid-December
Gouda (South Holland)
Gouda by Candlelight, Town Hall and market candle-lit for ceremonial lighting of Christmas tree
mid-December
Major cities
Tree-lighting ceremonies
mid-December
Voorburg (South Holland)
10.000 candles illuminate the old centre of town
mid-December
Groningen
European Youth Chess Tournament
mid-December
Tilburg (Brabant)
Antique Fair
End December
Amsterdam
Kerstflora – Christmas bulb show
End December
Rotterdam
Christmas market and circus: Holiday on Ice: held at Ahoy Hall
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