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Flowerparade: 3 - 4 May

On Saterday April 20th, the 66th edition of the annual Flower Parade will leave Noordwijk at 09:30 to travel its 40-km route, along the main roads, to arrive in Haarlem at about 21:00. The procession will comprise of 20 large floats and more than 30 decorated luxury cars, interspersed with marching bands.

Castle fests: 1 - 3 August

This 3 days event is organised in the gardens of Kasteel Keukenhof. It brings you back to the times of the Celts, the Vikings and the knights.

Leids ontzet (Liberation of the city of Leiden): 3 October

The Siege of Leiden occured during the Eighty Year's War in 1573 and 1574, when the Spanish attempted to capture the rebelloius city of Leiden, but failed. In September 1574, the Dutch decided to break the dikes in the south to let in seawater and so relieve the siege. However, in the absence of storms, for months the water did not rise high enough to flood the area.

Summer Carnival Rotterdam: 18 - 19 July

Summer Carnaval is a yearly event that mimics the carnaval of South Latin America. Initially it was an Antillean and Aruban occasion, but over the years it has grown into an event with which many cultures can identify.

Haarlem culinair: 31 July - 3 August

Around 70,000 people visit this culinary event at the historic big square (Grote Markt) of Haarlem. Thirteen restaurants present themself by serving their most delicious and refined snacks to the public.

Gaypride: 26 July - 3 August

The Amsterdam Gay Pride is an annual gay festival weekend in the centre of Amsterdam, organized in the first weekend of August. The highlight is the famous Canal Parade on Saterday afternoon. Where most parades use trucks, Amsterdam has boats!

Tong Tong Fair: 29 May - 9 June

The Tong Tong Fair in The Hague (since 1959) is the biggest Indonesian festival in the world. It's a combination of a cultural festival, exhibition and food festival, in an archipelago of tents.

Luilak (sluggard) flowermarket: 6 June at night

Luilak is traditional celebrated in the west of the Netherlands, the fridaynight/saterdaymorning before Whitsuntide. Young people wake up saterdaymorning very early to make a lot of noise.

World Press Photo exhibition: 18 April - 22 June

The World Press Photo exhibition is the result of an annual worlwide contest. It has become the most prestigious international award for photojournalism in the world.

Vlaggetjesdag Scheveningen (flag day): 14 June

Traditionally, a grand celebration is held around the arrival of the New Herring. In Scheveningen, close to The Hague, about 200.00 people celebrate the arrival of the new herring and eat it raw.

Circuit Park Zandvoort - Eastern races: 18 - 21 April

Circuit Park Zandvoort is a motorsport race track located in the dunes north of the town of Zandvoort, near the Nort Sea coast line. The circuit was mainly designed by John Hugenholtz and inaugurated on August 7th, 1948.

Sail 2015: August

SAIL Amsterdam is an impressive maritime manifestation held every five years in Amsterdam. A fleet of tall ships from all over the world and more than 500 sailing heritage ships moor on and around the IJ river in Amsterdam.

Bavaria City Racing Rotterdam: 31 August

Formerly known as Monaco at the Maas. Bavaria City Racing is a Formula One demonstration and a parade of international racecars. This event attracts 550,000 and access is mainly free.