Dutch annual festivals

The European Fine Art Fair – TEFAF
Month: March
Started as The Pictura Fine Art Fair in 1975, TEFAF is currently the world’s leading fine art fair. The fair is roughly the size of four football fields and contains art and antiques totaling up to $1 billion. All items are for sale. The fair catalogue can be pruchased online ahead of time starting in January on the homepage (below, see: Exhibitors & Exhibits).
Location: MECC Maastricht, Forum 100, Maastricht.
For information, tel.:(in advance) 0411 645 09 01;(during the Fair)  043 383 83 83              
www.tefaf.com/

National Museum Weekend
Month: April
This weekend many museums open their doors to the public. There are over 100 organized excursions in the neighborhood of these museums. Plus, there are free films, slide shows, extra tours, a look behind the scenes, demonstrations, workshops and treasure hunts for children. Participating museums fly a special red-white-and-blue flag of the Museum Weekend.
Location: across the country, various museums
For more information, tel.: 0900 40 40 910
www.museumkaart.nl and www.museum.nl

Koninginnedag (Queen's Day)
Day: 30 April 
The previous queen had her birthday on 30 April. This day turned into a big national birthday party - Queen's Day. Every city holds its own festivities. Amsterdam is by large the bussiest of all cities on Queen's Day, but Utrecht takes a good second place. The centre of cities are filled with activities for children and grown-ups. You are likely to walk into a very large car boot sale and there will probably be music events. The majority of the people will be wearing something orange.  The night before her birthday celebration The Hague celebrates Koninginnenach (Queen's Night) the city turns into one big, free-for-all music and dance festival with performances on dozens of indoor & outdoor stages all across town.
Location: The Hague City Center
For more information, tel.:                  070 364 19 33         
www.koninginnenach.nl/

Dunya Festival
Month: May
The largest multi-cultural world music festival in the Netherlands.
Location: Euromast, Parkhaven, Rotterdam
For more information, tel.:                  010 233 09 10         
www.dunya.nl

Tong Tong Fair (previously known as Pasar Malam Besar)
Date: May - June
For twelve days Eurasian culture and its global context are put in the spotlight on a 20,000 m2 festival site in The Hague.
Location: The Hague, Malieveld
For more information, tel.: 0900 72 72 762
www.tongtongfair.nl

Pinkpop
Month: June
A gigantic international open-air music festival with various pop artists.
Location: Landgraaf
For more information, contact VVV Landgraaf, tel.:                  045 532 29 29     or the organizers:                  046 475 25 00         
www.pinkpop.nl/

Holland Festival
Month: June
Innovative stage performances in Amsterdam. Celebrated artists perform one whole month in the Stadsschouwburg, the Muziektheater, the Concertgebouw and other venues.
On offer is opera, theater, music, dance and film.
Location: various theaters in Amsterdam
For more information, tel.:                  020 530 71 10         
www.hollandfestival.nl/

Festival Mundial
Date: June
Multicultural festival with theater and music from all over the world, a Novib exposition and The Parade of the Future.
Location: Tilburg Leijpark
For more information, tel.:                  013 543 13 35         
www.festivalmundial.nl/

The Hague Sculpture
Dates: June - August
The Hague Sculpture (Den Haag Sculptuur) is the most public outdoors exhibition of all Dutch cultural events. Beautiful old houses reflecting The Hague’s and the Netherlands’ history along with the sculptures exhibited during the summer months on Avenue Lange Voorhout transform this part of The Hague into an open-air museum.
Every year, over half a million visitors visit both day and night the inspiring combination of art and city life. And, it's free!
Location: Lange Voorhout, The Hague
For more information, tel.:                  070 346 94 86         
www.denhaagsculptuur.com/

Oerol Festival
Date: June
10 days of theater, world music and visual arts.
Various locations on Terschelling (one of the Wadden Islands, north of the Netherlands).
For more information, tel.:                  0562 44 84 48         
www.oerol.nl/

Poetry International (2009 = 40th Annual)
Date: June
International cultural festival of poets, with participants from many countries. Includes a translation project, discussion programs, expositions, film and video presentations and, don't forget, a huge final party.
Rotterdam Schouwburg, Schouwburgplein 25, Rotterdam
For more information, tel.:                  010 282 27 77         
www.poetry.nl/

Parkpop
Date: June
The largest free open-air pop festival in Europe. There is also be a pop market and a playground for children.
Location: Zuiderpark, The Hague
For more information, tel.:                  070 361 88 88         
or call: VVV The Hague, tel.: 0900 340 35 05
www.parkpop.nl/

North Sea Jazz Festival (2009 = 33st Annual)
Date: July
One of the largest international jazz festivals in the world. Its illustrious past boasts performances by virtually all the jazz greats. More than 8 hours of music on 13 stages per day, with preformances by over 1,000 jazz musicians.
Location: Nederlands Congrescentrum, Churchillplein 10, The Hague
For information tel.:                  070 306 63 66          , or the organizers:                  015 214 83 93         
www.northseajazz.nl/

Summer Carnival
Date: July
An exotic music, dance and float parade which takes over Rotterdam. Dancers in amazing costumes and swinging orchestras on decorated floats are followed by thousands of dancing visitors.
Location: City center, Rotterdam.
For more information, contact the VVV, tel.: 0900 403 40 65 or call                  010 414 17 72         
www.solerozomercarnaval.com/

Delft Chamber Music Festival
Date: Auguest
A rare chamber music festival with 16 different concerts.
Location: Stedelijk Museum, Delft
www.delftmusicfestival.nl/

Grachtenfestival (Canal Festival)
Date: August
For five days the canals of Amsterdam are taken over by over 70 classical concerts.
Location: Prinsengracht, Amsterdam
www.grachtenfestival.nl/

Lowlands
Date: August
Lowlands is The Netherlands’ biggest and most adventurous outdoor music festival. It offers a wide choice of worthy alternative music, theater, film, stand-up comedy, visual arts, literature and more.
Location: Walibi World, Biddinghuizen
www.lowlands.nl/

Uitmarkt Amsterdam
Date: Auguest
this event opens of the new cultural season with events on indoor and outdoor stages. There is also an information fair for the upcoming season and a book market.
Location: Museumplein, Amsterdam
contact VVV Amsterdam, tel.: 0900 01 91 or call                  020 621 13 11      
www.uitmarkt.nl/

Crossing Border
Date: November
A sampling of poetry, writing and music, with 100+ performances on various stages.
Various locations in The Hague
For more information, contact tel.:                  070 346 23 55         
www.crossingborder.nl/

International Documentary Festival (IDFA)
Dates: November – December
One of the biggest documentary film festivals in the world, screening over 150 documentary entries and an impressive workshop program.
Location: Leidseplein , Amsterdam
www.idfa.nl/

International Film Festival Rotterdam
Dates: January – February
Non-commercial films from all across the world, amounting to approximately 200 movies, documentaries, short films are at your fingertips.
Location: Schouwburgplein, Rotterdam.
For more information, tel.:                  010 890 90 90         
www.filmfestivalrotterdam.com/