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Dates in 2009 (most activities take place or start in the afternoon) |
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© Kees Jansen |
| Free Festivals/Activities |
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| 30 April |
Koninginnedag |
Amsterdam |
According to some the best place to spend Queens Day; lots of activities |
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http://www.koninginnedagamsterdam.nl/ |
| 5 May |
Bevrijdingsfestival |
Wageningen |
Each province has a big Liberation festival, but why not stay and enjoy yourself in Wageningen (17 stages)? |
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http://www.4en5meiwageningen.nl/Bevrijdingsfestival |
| 8-10 May |
Amersfoort Jazz |
Amersfoort |
Jazzfestival, unknow and known musicians, tip: jazzpop of Lavalu |
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http://www.keistadjazz.nl/home.html |
| 21-24 May |
Breda Jazz Festival |
Breda |
old style jazz, dixie land etc.; the open air concerts are free |
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http://www.bredajazzfestival.nl |
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| Sun 31 May |
Dunya festival |
Rotterdam |
World music, multi-stage; huge festival; recommended |
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http://www.dunya.nl/nl/programma |
| Sun 28 June |
Parkpop |
Den Haag |
Huge pop festival |
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http://www.parkpop.nl/ |
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| Sun 28 June |
Wereldfeest (World party) |
Utrecht |
World music, soul, raï, etc. activities for children |
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http://www.wereldfeestutrecht.nl/ |
| Sat 25 July |
Summer carnaval |
Rotterdam |
Very big (>1.2 milj visitors), Carribean style Carnaval Street Parade |
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http://www.zomercarnaval.nl/ |
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| 14-16 August |
Jazz Festival Delft |
Delft |
jazz, broad range of styles, including Dutch top bands; Delft is a beautiful city - nice combination |
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http://www.jazzfestivaldelft.nl/ |
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| Sat 15 and Sunday 16 August |
Dias Latinos |
Amersfoort |
Latin American music; medium size, very friendly; recommended |
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http://www.diaslatinos.nl |
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| 1 Aug (26 July - 2 Aug) |
Gay Pride Canal Parade |
Amsterdam |
Heterosexuals are welcome to watch and enjoy the boat parade and parties; big |
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http://www.amsterdampride.nl/ |
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| 19-23 August |
Haarlem Jazz stad |
Haarlem |
jazz; not big - cosy; a reason to visit beautiful Haarlem |
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http://www.haarlemjazzstad.nl/ |
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| about third week of august |
Rio aan de Rijn |
Arnhem |
Carnaval street parade |
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http://www.rioaanderijn.nl/ |
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| 29-30 August |
World Statues Festival |
Arnhem |
Statues competition |
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http://www.worldstatues.nl |
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| 18-24 July |
Four days festival |
Nijmegen |
Mainstream popular culture; 4 evenings |
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http://www.vierdaagsefeesten.nl |
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| 11-12 September |
Appelpop |
Tiel |
Pop music only; enormous tents, big festival; not so far from Wageningen |
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http://www.appelpop.nl/pages/engelsinfo.php |
| Other free activities |
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| each Sunday in June, July and August |
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Arnhem |
open air concerts in park Sonsbeek; also theater and dance & mini-festivals |
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http://www.sonsbeekfestival.nl |
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| 7 June - 23 August |
Vondelpark Openluchttheater |
Amsterdam |
In the Vondelpark; free concerts, theater, music, dance, etc.; quality varies; most evenings and Sunday afternoons |
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http://www.openluchttheater.nl/ |
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| A very small selection of activities with entrance fee |
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| 30-31 May & 1June |
Music Meeting |
Nijmegen |
Very pleasant, not too busy festival; combi of modern jazz and world music; good sound quality; recommended |
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http://www.musicmeeting.nl/ |
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| Sat 20 Jun |
Festival Mundial |
Tilburg |
Big muti-culti music festival (the party of development NGOs, solidarity movements, etc.) reasonable entrance fee, 12 euro |
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http://www.festivalmundial.nl |
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| 10-12 July |
North Sea Jazz |
Rotterdam |
Big jazz festival, 15 stages, big names; about 60-79 euros for day ticket; recommended |
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http://www.northseajazz.com/ |
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| 14-15 August |
Antilliaanse Feesten |
Hoogstraten (Belgium) |
World top of latin music (salsa etc.); day ticket 37 euro |
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http://www.antilliaansefeesten.be/nl/ |
| 27-28 June |
Afrikafestival |
Hertme |
African musci, 15 euro/day |
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http://www.openluchttheaterhertme.nl |