Dutch Festivals and Traditions

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Dutch Festivals and Traditions

Have you heard about one of the country with the most unique culture in the world? No need to look any further, because that country is Netherlands! The Dutch people are very passionate with the national traditions, culture and festivals. Dutch festivals and traditions are peculiar, unique and create an amazing atmosphere. Let's explore some of these amazing Dutch festivals and traditions!

Carnival Processions

One of the funniest Dutch festivals is the Carnival Processions or Carnaval as the Dutch people call it. This is a nationwide festival celebrated mostly in the cities. During this festival, everyone wears bright coloured clothes, party masks, and parade through the streets! The highlight of this Dutch festival is the big parade with floats, flowers, and all the fun stuff.

King's Day

King's Day is another important festival in the Netherlands. It's a national holiday every April 27th, so people from all around the country come together to celebrate this day through street festivals, parties, music, and of course lots of fun. During the day, people of all ages gather for traditional parades and processions with King's Day floats, and sing the national anthem.

Sinterklaas

Sinterklaas is another Dutch tradition related to Christmas. This tradition starts on December 5th and lasts until December 6th. During this time, the Dutch people gather around their Christmas tree to wait for Sinterklaas to come in with his white horse and his famous book of life. The book contains every person's name and their good or bad deeds. Then, Sinterklaas will read out the stories and give some presents to the good people.

Easter Traditions

Easter is an important festival in the Netherlands and is celebrated in a more traditional way. On Easter Sunday the bells in church ring out at dawn and the Dutch people come together for traditional Easter celebrations. Everyone enjoys eating an Easter breakfast, and each member of the family will receive a gift from the Easter Bunny.

The Dutch people also take part in a traditional Easter egg hunt. Everyone searches the area looking for Easter eggs that are hidden around the village. The Easter Bunny will come by on Easter Sunday to leave Easter presents or sweets in the hidden eggs.

Tulip Festival

The Tulip Festival is one of the most spectacular Dutch festivals. The Tulip Festival takes place every April in Amsterdam. Hundreds of tulip fields throughout Netherlands are flooded with colour as tulips of all types and colours are in full bloom. The atmosphere of this festival is like a graceful painting. Tourists from all over the world come here to enjoy the beauty of the tulips and take part in the festivities.

Summer Festivals

During summer, The Netherlands organise some of the most extraordinary festivals. One of the most popular is the Urban Explore Festival. This one is a modern music festival, where young people come together to show their talents, party and make memories. There are also several other festivals, such as the Amsterdam Dance Event (ADE) and the Vrije volleyball tournament in Haarlem.

Beer Festivals

Beer is a very important part of the Dutch culture. There are several beer festivals such as the Amsterdam Beer Festival or the Utrecht Beer Festival that takes place every October. You can expect to find lots of different local beers and other large multinationals. People will be enjoying music and socializing all night long

New Year's Celebration

Finally, there is New Year's celebrations. On December 31st, bells ring out to bring in the New Year. To celebrate, the Dutch families usually have a big family gathering and have a large meal. At midnight everybody clinks their glasses in the middle of the living room to wish everyone a Happy New Year!
Nathan Anderson @ Unsplash

From Carnival Processions to Beer Festivals, Netherlands is a country full of amazing festivities and traditions. Dutch festivals and traditions are a great way to get to know the Netherlands culture better and have fun at the same time. Why not come and join them during your next holiday! Golden sun over a dirt road
Trevor Wilson @ Unsplash

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