How was everyone’s Koninginnedag (Queen’s Day) celebrations? Did you dress in oranje (orange), buy something at the vrijmarkt (free market) or just sat outside enjoying the zonneschijn (sunshine)? Whatever you did, I hope that it was een leuke dag (a fun day).

We have now arrived in the month of Mei (May), another good maand (month) for things to do in the Netherlands and in Flanders, too! If you are in this part of the woods during May, why not practice your Dutch at one of these events?

• National Mills Day (May 12^th) – Every second Saturday in May is the National Mills Day in Holland. On this day, 600 wind- and watermills are open to visitors. The National Mills Day is combined with the National Cycling Day, which makes it easy to combine a cycling tour with a visit to a few mills.
• Cat Parade Ypres (May 13^th) – A contemporary parade brimming with Ypres history. The Cat Parade is a whirling spectacle with floats, giants, music groups, theatre and quite obviously a very large number of ‘cats’.
• Festival a/d Werf (May 17^th) – For a period of ten days Utrecht transforms into the stage of the cultural festival Festival a/d Werf. This annual festival presents original productions created by artists who explore the boundaries of theatre, and places them within the context of an international program.
• Delta Lloyd North Sea Regatta (May 25^th) – Every Whitsun weekend, the harbour of Scheveningen becomes the beating heart of the Dutch competitive sailing world. Yachts of all sizes lie next to each other companionably, the cats launch from the beach and the dinghies use the new ramp. A total of about 2.500 sailors will be invading The Hague for the annual Delta Lloyd North Sea Regatta.
• Pinkpop (May 26^th) – Every year Holland’s biggest open-air festival takes place in the city of Landgraaf. PINKPOP is a multi-day event with different stages where (inter)national artists put on spectacular shows. PINKPOP is sold out almost every year.
• Dunya Festival (May 27^th) – Dunya brings all the cultures of the world within hand’s reach in Rotterdam. The Dunya Festival takes place on several stages at the Euromast Park. All your senses will be stimulated at this performing arts festival in Holland.
• Brussels Jazz Marathon (May 25^th – May 27^th) – A huge jazz party which makes the capital of Europe swing for one weekend, with more than 450 musicians performing on the main squares in Brussels (Grand Place, place du Sablon, place Ste-Catherine & place Fernand Cocq) as well as in 50 venues/clubs/hotels.

Wat gaat u doen deze maand? (What will you do this month?)

*descriptions courtesy of Holland.com and VisitFlanders.co.uk