Our festival picks

1. King’s day

More than half a million locals and tourists cascade into the center of Amsterdam for what feels like the world’s biggest street party, in addition to celebrations held all over the Netherlands. There is a gigantic sunrise-to-sunset street carnival, while the city center fills with stalls for a unique flea market.

 
 

2. Flower parade

The main highlight of the entire event is the actual flower parade, which features numerous floats adorned in beautiful, brightly colored spring flowers. The parade itself travels all the way from the streets of Noordwijk to the city of Haarlem.

 

3. Canal festival Amsterdam

True to its name, the Canal Festival is largely held on, and around, Amsterdam’s many canals. Amsterdam’s historic canal belt was named a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2010 and is the perfect setting for this ten-day cultural festival that includes classical music at stunning locations across the city. 

 

4. Flag day Scheveningen

Flag Day is also known as Vlaggetjesdag Scheveningen, a fun (and free!) festival that takes place in the Dutch harbor of Scheveningen. every year in June and was originally the day when fishing boats in the harbor were decorated before setting sail to catch herring.

 

 5. Maastricht carnival

The Carnival Occurs in Maastricht, the capital city of Limburg province, in the southern part of the Netherlands. Young and old participate, creating outlandish costumes and striking and colorful floats. During the three-day celebration, there are live bands, plenty to eat and drink, a grand parade, and lots of merry-making in the streets.