KeukenhofThe world's largest garden (32-hectares) bursts with
colour during this eight week spring season. This showcase of
flowers (particularly the elegant tulips and daffodils) attracts
some 800,000 visitors to its flowery ramparts and is divided into
theme gardens, sculpture routes and a children's exhibition known
as Clever ClogsQueen's DayThe Queen Mother's birthday is a very festive occasion
in the Netherlands, and Amsterdam goes all out to celebrate staging
a street party which starts the night before and keeps going well
into the early hours of the next day. Traditionally people
attending wear orange (the Royal family is the House of Orange),
and ensure they have a beer in hand. The party also resembles a
giant jumble sale, with street trade unregulated for the day
allowing people to display all their unused and unwanted goods on
the street in the hope of selling it to passers-by. It is a great
day for bargain hunters and party animals alike, particularly if
the sun shines. For more information contact the tourist office on
(0)20 201 8800.Amsterdam PrideOne of Europe's most popular and well-attended 'gay
pride' festivals, Amsterdam's Pride takes place annually in early
August. The highlight is the Canal Parade on the Saturday in which
about 75 decorated craft carry revellers along the Prinsengracht,
Amstel and Stopera canals to the delight of about 25,000
spectators. The festival includes a full programme of street
parties at different venues during the week, sporting events, an
open-air film festival on the Nieumarkt and numerous theatrical and
cultural eventsAmsterdam Roots FestivalNow a major event on the global music calendar,
Amsterdam's Roots Festival started in 1983 as a celebration of
African music. Today the annual programme draws top artists from
everywhere around the world, and hordes of concertgoers who come to
enjoy their talents. The festival opens each year with a massive
free open-air concert in the Oosterpark, performances spanning six
stages. During the rest of the festival week about 60 concerts are
held at different venues around the city. The Roots Festival is
part of the Holland Festival.Holland FestivalThe Holland Festival is a yearly trend-setting and
innovative presentation of the dramatic arts, the highlight of the
cultural season in the Netherlands. During the month of June each
year about 30 productions take to the boards across the full
spectrum of the arts, music, opera, theatre and dance. The
programme includes everything from pop music to topical high drama.
A street café on Leidseplein serves as the festival centre where
bookings can be made.Amsterdam Dance EventEurope's main electronic and dance music conference
brings together more than 1,300 professionals from the
international dance music community for a daytime conference and
night time festival in Amsterdam's city centre. Thousands of
visitors dance the nights away at more than 12 clubs with top DJs
and artists performing. The three-day programme includes everything
from electro to trance and house.New Year's Eve in AmsterdamOn New Year's Eve locals and tourists pack into the
streets and squares of central Amsterdam to celebrate before
heading to one of the city's many bars and clubs. Dam Square and
the Leidseplein become the centre of most of the revelry and as
midnight approaches the sky is lit up with fireworks. The
atmosphere in the bars is festive and friendly, though a little
seedy around the red light district. Many nightclubs offer New Year
specials with top DJs and performances. For more information
contact the Amsterdam Tourist Office on +31 (0)20 551 2525 or email
info@amsterdamtourist.nlArrival of St NicholasThe true story of Santa Claus began in the 3rd century
when St Nicholas (the Bishop of Myra) dedicated his life to helping
the poor and needy. Through the centuries many stories and legends
have been told about St Nicholas' life and deeds, but he is best
known today for giving presents to children. His birthday is
commemorated on 6 December and three weeks before, he arrives in
Amsterdam on a ship and rides a white horse to Dam Square. The
arrival of St Nicholas is a festive occasion; musical bands and
Black Peters accompany him on bicycles with acrobats, clowns and
animals to entertain the children. For more information contact the
Amsterdam Tourist Office on +31 (0)20 551 2525 or email
info@amsterdamtourist.nlHolland Flowers FestivalA huge plant and flower show, the Holland Flowers
Festival is an annual riot of colour and fragrance with a vast
array of tulips, irises, daffodils and other blooms covering the
halls. An accompanying fair showcases hundreds of house and garden
products.UitmarktEvery year Uitmarkt heralds the official beginning of
the cultural season in Holland and is a celebration and
introduction to the forthcoming cultural activities in the city.
Stages are erected all over the city and offer a wide variety of
free performances, including theatre, music, dance, street theatre
and film, as well as numerous workshops around Leidseplein and
Museumplein. There are also hundreds of cultural institutions on
hand to provide information about their upcoming events and
publishers with their latest editions. Contact the Amsterdams Uit
Buro for more information on +31 (0)20 621 1211 or email the
Amsterdam Tourist Office info@amsterdamtourist.nlCannabis CupAmsterdam is equally famous for the relaxed attitude
towards marijuana as it is for tulips, canals and Van Gogh; and the
Cannabis Cup is a celebration of the narcotic that attracts many
high-minded tourists who want to partake openly in its
appreciation. High Times Magazine sponsors the event and gathers
all the best spliff around to sample and ultimately be awarded with
the prestigious Cannabis Cup. The event is steadily increasing in
popularity and attracts thousands of curious spectators each year
who can purchase seeds and winning weed throughout the festival.
However it is not all about getting high, as promoters also try and
persuade visitors to the global benefits of the hemp
industry.International Documentary Film Festival AmsterdamOne of the top documentary festivals on the
international calendar sees over 180 entries and over 60,000 film
fanatics, industry professionals and passers by in attendance. The
films focus on everything and anything of interest and there are
concurrent mini festivals, or themed showings, within the IDFA. The
documentaries compete for feature length, short, and newcomer
prizes.Dance Valley FestivalThere is no denying the popularity of this hugely
important festival on the dance calendar. The top names in the
international electronic music scene enthral the 60,000 odd fans
for whom this has certainly become one of the annual highlights of
the contemporary dance scene.ING Amsterdam MarathonThe popular marathon is one of the top twelve in the
world and part of the IAAF Golden League. Runners from all over the
world enjoy the flat terrain, stunning architecture and little
traffic that characterises the Amsterdam Marathon. The race dates
back to 1975 and is recognised as one of the most professionally
organised and enjoyable races on the athletics
calendar.De ParadeDe Parade is a travelling theatre festival that visits
Rotterdam, The Hague, and Utrecht for about 6 weeks in total before
culminating with 17 days of performances as one of the highlights
of the August in Amsterdam festival. Audiences can enjoy a variety
of theatre dance, magic, art and animation. Families are most
welcome and there are children's shows throughout the
afternoon.Canal FestivalThe Grachtenfestival (Canal Festival) is nine days of
classical music appreciation along the canals of the capital city
and a few indoor areas. A number of concerts are performed
culminating in the Prinsengracht concert, which takes place on a
floating stage.pAn AmsterdamThe leading national art and antiques fair of the Low
Countries has an incredible variety to offer collectors. Whether an
antique in the business or a newcomer just browsing, one may
happily peruse for hours the sheer diversity of ceramics,
jewellery, furniture, silver, glassware, manuscripts, ornaments,
clocks, sculptures, paintings, photographs& the list goes on
and on.
|
Flight Shops in India
Pacific Mall, Tagore Garden
15 Lower Ground Floor,
Tagore Garden New Delhi
Call
011 4253 7700
or
email
DT Mega Mall, Gurgaon
Shop No-G4, Golf Course Road, DLF City, Phase - I Gurgaon
Call
0124 464 9800
or
email
|