7 minute read
Event Diary
EVENTS DIARY SPRING 2020
This is but a small selection of the many events and festivals that are taking place in the Netherlands this spring. Nonetheless, certainly for the newcomers among our readers, we hope to have compiled a few fun tips on things that are just too good to miss. For a more extensive program of events in the Netherlands, we refer you to www.holland.com
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40th Rotterdam Marathon
One of the largest sporting events in the Netherlands, the ABN AMRO Rotterdam Marathon, will welcome thousands of runners to the annual race, with over 925,000 spectators cheering them on. This exciting sporting event is a fun mix of athletic competition and festival-related events, as well as a Pasta Party on Saturday, April 4! Other races include the ¼ marathon, the AD Mini marathon and two kids’ runs.
20th Motel Mozaïque Festival (MOMO) Each year, Motel Mozaïque organizes several special cultural events such as the (inter)nationally-respected Motel Mozaïque festival which offers a mix of pop music, dance, theater and visual arts. At various venues in the amazing center of Rotterdam. The 20th edition of the festival will bring you exciting (new) artists in performance and art, but most of all lots of music! Motel Mozaïque’s line-up is bursting with both new talent, and some more renowned names.
April 16 - 18 different venues Rotterdam Center www.motelmozaique.nl/en
World Press Photo Story of the Year Nominee Online Nicolas Asfouri
World Press Photo
The World Press Photo 2020 exhibition will be at De Nieuwe Kerk Amsterdam, starting Saturday, April 18. The 63rd edition of the competition features impressive photographs in eight categories: Daily Life, General News, Contemporary Issues, LongTerm Projects, Nature, People, Spot News and Sport. First, second and third prizes are awarded in each category.
April 18 – July 26 De Nieuwe Kerk, Dam, Amsterdam www.nieuwekerk.nl www.worldpressphoto.org
Life I Live Festival
For the tenth time in a row, on the night preceding King’s Day and on King’s Day itself, The Hague will be the stage for the Life I Live Festival, with indoor and out door venues hosting approximately 50 different performances on 10 stages, with soul, funk, hip hop, blues, indiepop, ga rage, punkrock, psychedelica, jazz and dance tunes – all for free.
April 26 - 27 The Hague www.thelifeilive.nl
62nd Tong Tong Fair
The roots of the former Dutch colony of Indonesia are firmly grounded in the city of The Hague – as is attested by the many tokos (Indonesian stores), traditional eateries and exotic street names. Also the Tong Tong Fair, the largest Eurasian festival in the world, has been on the Hague festival agenda for 62 years. East and west meet on the Hague Malieveld, in an expedition that will take you through Indonesian, Vietnamese and Malaysian culture, bringing you theater, dance, delicious food and much, much more.
May 28 - June 7 Malieveld, The Hague www.tongtongfair.nl
King’s Day
This nation has been celebrating its monarch’s birthday since 1898. It’s gone from Princess’, to Queen’s, to King’s Day, now celebrated on April 27. Dutch cities around the country will be filled with enthusiastic supporters covered head to toe in orange, taking part in this traditional celebration. Fun entertainment includes street parties, live music and theater performances, along with the well-known vrijmarkten (flea markets), in just about every city and town. In Amsterdam, you will find the main areas of activity in Damrak, Leidsestraat, Rokin and Spui. The Royal Family will be visiting Maastricht this year, where they will be entertained in keeping with tradition.
SPRING Performing Arts Festival
Remembrance Day and Liberation Day
The Netherlands has a unique way of commemorating the Second World War, paying tribute with two national holidays: Remem brance Day (May 4) and Liberation Day (May 5). Related events, including exhibitions, lectures and debates, are scheduled to keep history a part of contemporary discussions. The commemoration begins with solemn ceremonies on May 4 as a symbol of re spect for all the Dutch who have died in conflicts worldwide, and continues the next day with big events including 14 openair pop festivals throughout the country, of which Bevrijdingspop, in Haarlem, was the first in 1980.
May 4 - 5 Amsterdam and the rest of the Netherlands www.4en5mei.nl/english
SPRING Performing Arts Festival
This festival focuses on a crossover between theater and dance. It is a merger of two festivals that have been leading international platforms for the performing arts and returns again this year with performances, installations and debates. The 10-day festival is the only event that focuses on the latest developments in international contemporary dance. Both established and emerging artists and dancers will perform works created by local and international choreographers. Ticket sales will start and the line-up will be announced at the start of April.
May 14 - 23 Utrecht www.springutrecht.nl
Best Kept Secret
North Sea Regatta Photo Sander van der Borch
Holland Festival, Beethoven Florian Joahn
Holland Festival
The Holland Festival is the Netherlands’ oldest and largest performing arts festival. It was founded in 1947 to foster a positive interaction between the Netherlands and its surrounding countries, and features some of the world’s top artists and performers. Last year, the festival offered more than 50 inter national productions and almost 160 performances. Its program includes theater, music, opera and modern dance performances, as well as arts, film and literature – offering the public a ‘kaleidoscopic view of the world’. The aim is to bring you a mix of great names and daring experiments, all coming together to offer the public quality performances that are unique to the country.
Best Kept Secret
of the Best Kept Secret. This three-day festival is known for its impressive indie program, such as – in the past – Arcade Fire and Arctic Monkeys, on the main stage. It also focuses on hip hop, folk and electronic music. If you are in the mood for a party, you are in luck: Best Kept Secret now also has a night program.
June 12 - 14 Safaripark Beekse Bergen, Hilvarenbeek www.bestkeptsecret.nl/en
North Sea Regatta
This annual sailing event attracts thousands of sailing and water sports aficionados as well as spectators – who all come to enjoy a weekend full of sailing spectacle and fun. Every Whitsun weekend, the har bor of Scheveningen becomes the beating heart of the Dutch world of sail racing. In total, approximately 2,500 sailors come to The Hague to enjoy this annual interna tional nautical event.
42 | the xpat journal | 2020 Festival Classique, Maya Fridman
Festival Classique
Enjoy classical music in a beautiful environment. The center of The Hague is transformed into a huge open-air concert hall for this Festival Classique. The heart of the festival is the impressive floating podium on the Hofvijver. This podium, which offers seating to the spectators, floats on a pontoon next to the offices of parliament. It is a unique chance to enjoy classical performances on the water, while enjoying the historic buildings in the background.
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