Student Exchange Programme
Department of Public Policy
Cultural Discovery of the Netherlands
“Carnival emphasizes role-reversal and suspension of social norms while respecting others as the same human race. The aim is to stop everyone from being serious during Carnival time.”
By Koey Lee Man Yee (BSSPSA)
Exchange Study at Maastricht University,
2013/14 Semester A
Carnival in the Netherlands
The “Carnival” is celebrated in the Netherland just before Ash Wednesday (Feb/March). People dress up in crazy colourful costume, drink and dance with loud music in open areas.
Festivals
People dressed up during Carnival
Queen’s Day or King’s Day is the official celebration of birthday of the monarch (Head of the House of Orange) in Holland. It is the largest street party of the year. Everyone dress something in orange.
The Dutch Flower Parade
A spring celebration with spectacular flowers and beautiful colours to show off the Dutch flower-bulb cultivation in all its glory.
Gigantic floats and vehicles are decorated with bright blooms of various locally-grown flowers. The procession starts through the bulb-growing area (a district in Western Holland, between the cities of Haarlem and Leiden) and are accompanied by performers and marching bands.
Celebrations on the streets
 Parade during the Carnival |  Parade during the Carnival |  Parade during the Carnival |
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 Parade during the Carnival |
Carnival is full of passion
Carnival is full of passion
Carnival is full of passion
Carnival is full of passion
“People are friendly and they taught us the traditional Dutch Dance.” By Fung Pui Yan (BSSPSA) Exchange Study at Erasmus University Rotterdam, 2013/14 Semester B
“People are friendly and they taught us the traditional Dutch Dance.”
By Fung Pui Yan (BSSPSA)
Exchange Study at Erasmus University Rotterdam, 2013/14 Semester B
Queen’s / King’s Day in the Netherlands
Dutch people celebrating their Queen’s birthday - Everyone is wearing something orange, showing a strong sense of national identity.
In 2014, Queen’s Day becomes King’s Day in the Netherlands. For the first time since 1890, Holland has a king again: King Willem-Alexander who was inaugurated on April 30, 2013.
It was the King’s day in Amsterdam, people enjoyed the open party from day till late evening.
King’s Day in 2014 -- Some people held boat parties on the canals.
The Keukenhof in the Netherlands, also known as the Garden of Europe, is one of the world's largest flower gardens.
The Keukenhof in the Netherlands, also known as the Garden of Europe, is one of the world's largest flower gardens.
The Keukenhof in the Netherlands, also known as the Garden of Europe, is one of the world's largest flower gardens.
The Keukenhof in the Netherlands, also known as the Garden of Europe, is one of the world's largest flower gardens.
The Keukenhof in the Netherlands, also known as the Garden of Europe, is one of the world's largest flower gardens.
Donald Lee in the picture
Tulip Garden in the Netherlands
 Spectacular flowers and beautiful colours to show off the Dutch flower-bulb cultivation in all its glory (usually held in early April). |  |
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 |  |
 Gigantic floats and vehicles are decorated with bright blooms of various locally-grown flowers. The procession starts through the bulb-growing area (a district in Western Holland, between the cities of Haarlem and Leiden) and are accompanied by performers and marching bands. |  |
 |  Helping with the flower parade in Leiden Lion Wat (BSSPSA) Exchange Study at Leiden University, 2013-14 Semester B. |
The finished product by Donald Lee and his friends in Maastricht.
Invited by Dutch friends to help prepare their Flower Parade