Discover Benelux | The Netherlands | Unmissable Festivals and Events
Street theatre with a smile Free, good vibes and, above all, fun! For the past 30 years, the street theatre festival Mooi Weer Spelen has brought people from all over the world together in the historical town of Delft for a weekend full of theatre, music and dance. Each year at the beginning of summer, the historical market square of Delft transforms into the stage of the international street theatre festival Mooi Weer Spelen. With its surrounding streets forming the backdrop of the impressive live shows, visitors from all over the world can
TEXT: ELLA PUT | PHOTOS: STUDIO-IK INGRID KOENEN
enjoy free street acts such as exciting circus performances, hilarious puppetry shows, enchanting magic tricks and dance theatre, and other impressive acts from Friday 22 June until Sunday 24 June. The city comes to life during the three-day event. Thriving from a passion from the diversity of street theatre and the historic surroundings of Delft, it also treasures and celebrates the intimate atmosphere that makes the festival unique, and this is also why many visitors keep coming back. All performances are prepared for an international crowd, meaning
Out and about in the Dutch Venice With scenic watery landscapes and canals, at the little Venice of the north, guests can enjoy a magic boat ride at night with delicious food prepared by renowned chefs and live music. Giethoorn is the perfect spot for cultural festivities with food, music and surrounding water all year long. Being nicknamed the Dutch Venice, the picturesque township of Giethoorn is a unique place in the Benelux. With scenic little canals and no cars allowed, guests from all over the world can enjoy the quaint atmosphere as well as its many activities organised by Giethoorn Evenementen,
a collective of enthusiastic local volunteers who combine their creative minds and passion for organising events with knowledge about the area. “The unique aspect about Giethoorn is the fact that there is so much water and we try to incorporate this as much as possible in our activities,” one of the initiators of Giethoorn Evenementen, Arie Vermije, explains. In the upcoming season, Giethoorn Evenementen offers a diverse range of events for an international audience. For instance, the Shanti Festival, with over 30 folk and shanty bands performing in 15 different locations in the charming town. Furthermore, everyone
that visitors with any language can follow the storylines. The acts can also be viewed from afar at one of the many terraces in the romantic city centre. Highlights of this year’s festival include the theatre spectacle of Odyssee, set on the market square on Saturday. Sunday will be the big family day and visitors can enjoy a show called Polynesian Fireworks, where the audience as well as lettuce heads play a surprising role! Web: www.mooiweerspelen.nl
TEXT: ELLA PUT | PHOTOS: NBTC
has the chance to take a dip in the canals at the Swim To Fight Cancer event during the first weekend of July. “A lovely yet funny sight. Normally we only see boats drifting on the water, but during that weekend the canals become a sea of colourful swimming caps.” Vermije continues: “It’s wonderful to bring everyone together in this way. Our initiative brings a lot of joy, and since we organise everything together, it has also created a closeknit community.” Web: www.giethoornevenementen.nl
Photo: Swim To Fight Cancer
38 | Issue 54 | June 2018