There are a number of things you need to know before entering the job market in the Netherlands, such as: the make-up of the Dutch employment market, finding a job here as an expatriate, Dutch labor law, the Dutch social security system etc.
Please note: most of these events have already taken place, but you can check their websites for next year's dates
NATIONAL MUSEUM WEEKEND Dates: Apr. 7-8, 2012
This is a weekend in which many museums open their doors to the public. There will be more than 100 organized excursions. Furthermore, there will be free films, slide shows, extra tours, a look behind the scenes, demonstrations, workshops and treasure hunts for children. You can recognize the participating museums by the special red-white-and-blue flags of the Museum Weekend.
Location: across the country, various museums
Internet: www.museumweekend.nl
TONG TONG FAIR Dates: May 17-28, 2012
For twelve days, the Eurasian cultures and their global contexts are put in the spotlight on a 20,000 m2 festival site in The Hague. It is a combination of music festival and large indoor market, highlighting 3 food halls, 5 stages, presentations, workshops and artists from Asia and Europe.
Location: The Hague, Malieveld
Internet: www.tongtongfair.nl
PINKPOP Dates: May 26-28, 2012
This year is the 40th edition of what is touted as the world’s oldest pop music festival. It is a pleasant, if packed, international open-air affair with various pop artists performing their hits.
Location: Landgraaf Megaland
Internet: www.pinkpop.nl
HOLLAND FESTIVAL Dates: Jun. 1-28, 2012
Innovative stage performances in Amsterdam. The world’s most celebrated artists perform one whole month in, among others, the Stadsschouwburg, the Muziektheater and the Concertgebouw.
Visitors can enjoy opera, theater, music, dance and film.
Location: various theaters in Amsterdam
Ticket service, www.ticketservice.nl or tel.: 020 523 77 87
Internet: www.hollandfestival.nl
OEROL FESTIVAL Dates: Jun. 15-24, 2012
10 days of theater on location: street theater, world music and visual arts.
Various locations on Terschelling (one of the Wadden Islands, north of the Netherlands),
For more information, contact the VVV of Terschelling.
Internet: www.oerol.nl
FESTIVAL MUNDIAL Dates: Jun. 16-17, 2012
Multicultural festival with, among others, theater and music from all corners of the world, a Novib exposition and The Parade of the Future.
Location: Tilburg Leijpark
Internet: www.festivalmundial.nl
PARKPOP Date: Jun. 24, 2012
The largest free open-air pop festival in Europe with local and foreign pop groups on two stages. There will also be a pop market and a playground for children.
Location: Zuiderpark, The Hague
Internet: www.parkpop.nl
NORTH SEA JAZZ FESTIVAL Dates: Jul. 6-8, 2012
One of the largest and best-known international jazz festivals in the world which has, in its decades-long history, enjoyed performances by virtually all the jazz heroes of all time. More than 8 hours of music on 15 stages per day, with contributions by more than 1,500 jazz musicians.
Location: Ahoy’, Ahoy’-weg 10, Rotterdam
Internet: www.northseajazz.com
SUMMER CARNIVAL Dates: Jul. 27-28, 2012
An exotic music, dance and float parade, which turns the inner city of Rotterdam upside down. Dancers in fantastic costumes and many swinging orchestras on decorated floats are followed by thousands of dancing visitors. Includes the queen election on the 19th, the Battle of Drums on the 24th and the street parade itself on the 25th.
Location: Center of Rotterdam
For more information, contact the VVV of Rotterdam,
tel.: 0900 404 02 00 or call 0900 403 40 65
Internet: www.zomercarnaval.nl
DELFT CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL Dates: Aug. 3-12, 2012
A unique chamber music festival with a variety of concerts.
Location: Stedelijk Museum, Delft
Internet: www.delftmusicfestival.nl
CANAL GAY PARADE Date: Aug. 4, 2012
Amsterdam’s celebration of all things Gay, Lesbian, Bi, Transgender, which has grown into one of the world’s premier Pride parades.
Location: Amsterdam canals
Internet: www.canalparade.nl
LOWLANDS Dates: Aug. 17-19, 2012
Lowlands is Holland’s biggest and most adventurous outdoor music festival. It offers a choice of the best alternative music, theater, film, stand-up comedy, visual arts, literature and more.
Location: Walibi World, Biddinghuizen
Internet: www.lowlands.nl
PREUVENEMINT Dates: Aug. 23-26, 2012
Four-day culinary event, with over thirty stands acting as restaurants. Beer and soft drinks available at separate stands. Live music on a permanent open-air stage.
Location: Vrijthof Square, Maastricht
Internet: www.preuvenemint.nl
UITMARKT AMSTERDAM Dates: Aug. 24-26, 2012
Opening of the new cultural season with shows on indoor and outdoor stages. Also an information market and a book market.
Location: Museumplein, Amsterdam
For more information, contact VVV Amsterdam,
Internet: www.uitmarkt.nl
HAAGS UIT FESTIVAL Date: Sep. 2, 2012
At this festival, music ensembles, dance companies, orchestras and theater groups give you a taste of what is to come in the new season. The performances are held on various stages of the theaters on the Spui and there is a literary, cultural, theater and information market.
Location: Lange Voorhout and Spuiplein, The Hague
For more information, contact VVV The Hague,
Internet: www.haagsuitfestival.nl
WORLD HARBOR FESTIVAL Dates: Sep. 7-9, 2012
Experience daily life in the biggest harbor in the world. This festival is all about maritime, educational and cultural activities in which the harbor of Rotterdam and its industrial area are the main feature.
Location: Harbor of Rotterdam
Internet: www.wereldhavendagen.nl
CROSSING BORDER FESTIVAL Dates: Nov. 14-17, 2012
A refreshing look at poetry, writing and music, with approximately 120 performances on various stages by poets, writers and musicians.
Location: Koninklijke Schouwburg and Het Nationale Toneelgebouw in The Hague
Internet: www.crossingborder.nl
INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FESTIVAL (IDFA) Dates: Nov. 14-25, 2012
One of the biggest documentary film festivals in the world, with more than 150 documentaries and an extensive workshop program.
Location: Leidseplein, Amsterdam
Internet: www.idfa.nl
INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL ROTTERDAM Dates: Jan. 25–Feb. 5, 2012 (dates may be subject to change, please check the website below)
International film festival with non-commercial films from all across the world, amounting to approximately 200 movies, documentaries, short films and videos.
Location: Schouwburgplein, Rotterdam.
Internet: www.filmfestivalrotterdam.com
SELECTED SPORTS EVENTS
SNEEKWEEK An annually recurring sailing event – that in some or other form has been taking place since 1814, when a local hero deserted the French army and made it home safely – and that spans an entire week. There are sailing races every day, in various categories, as well as festivities and a fair.
Dates: Aug. 4 – 9, 2012
Location: Sneekermeer, Sneek (province of Friesland)
Internet: www.sneekweek.nl
DAM TO DAM LOOP A 16km-course from Dam Square to the centre of Zaandam through the IJ-tunnel. A maximum of 30,000 runners from across the world participate, whereby approximately 20,000 sign up for the Business Run (Business Loop). As of 2005, participators are encouraged to run in support of a charity; these charities are given extra publicity preceding the Run. There are bands and small orchestras lining the course, along with hundreds of thousands of spectators, creating a festive atmosphere.
Date: Sep. 23, 2012
Location: Amsterdam
Internet: www.damloop.nl
SKÛTSJESILEN Skûtjesilen is the name for sailing races between old freight ships, or flat-bottom boats, that were used towards the turn of the former century to transport turf, fertilizer and other goods to isolated farms. The bottoms were flat, to allow them to navigate the shallow waters when approaching their destination. These boats are a sight to behold; beautiful, old-fashioned, lovingly-constructed wooden testaments to a practical, sea-faring nation.
Dates: Jul. 28 – Aug. 10, 2012
Location: Frisian Lakes
Internet: www.skutsjesilen.nl
JUMPING AMSTERDAM One of the largest international equestrian events in the Netherlands, that attracts approximately 50,000 visitors a year and includes a.o. dressage, jumping, ponies, juniors, and driving – as well as entertainment.
Date: Jan. 19 – 22, 2012
Location: Amsterdam RAI
Internet: www.jumpingamsterdam.nl
ABN AMRO TENNIS TOURNAMENT An increasingly famous tournament, which has become one of the ten worldwide ‘500 points tournaments’, allowing the players to accumulate more ‘ranking points’.
Date: Feb. 2012, date to be announced
Location: Rotterdam Ahoy
Internet: www.abnamrowtt.nl
CPC LOOP An international half-marathon that takes place annually in The Hague, attracting over 18,000 participants every year. The course is flat, fast and traffic-free. The race begins in the city center, heads out to the pier at the coastal resort of Scheveningen and then returns to where it started. There is also a 10km fun run and other recreational walking and running events varying in distance – also two for kids.
Date: Mar. 2012, date to be announced
Location: The Hague – Scheveningen
Internet: www.cpcloopdenhaag.nl
ROTTERDAM MARATHON Thanks to the three World records that have been established on this course, the Rotterdam marathon has attained (inter)national fame. The Fortis Marathon Rotterdam has become the biggest marathon in the Netherlands. The course is fast, the crowds are great and the atmosphere on the Coolsingel is unique.
Date: Apr. 8, 2012
Location: Rotterdam
Internet: www.marathonrotterdam.nl
