Colors of The Hague - traditions, festivals, mentality and lifestyle

During the year locals celebrate numerous interesting and unique holidays, which attract tourists and leave a lot of bright impressions. The evening of April 29 is the beginning of "Royal Nights". Residents leave their houses and go to the streets of the city. They sing, dance, drink beer, and enjoy snacks and fresh pastries. The holiday lasts all night long, and strongest citizens go to their homes only after dawn. The next day the celebration continues. All locals wear orange suits and walk in a solemn procession through the streets of Hague.

In summer the city hosts a variety of music festivals, the most famous of which is certainly Parkpop, which brings together fans of pop music from all over the world. Perhaps, ‘the Feast of herring’ is the most unusual celebration which is celebrated by the inhabitants of Hague in late May. On the day of the celebration citizens consume hundreds of barrels of young herring, but the first barrel is traditionally presented to the Queen. Another distinctive feature of the local people is love to street fairs and performances. Even on a normal working day you can find funny clowns and acrobats on the streets of the city, as well as musicians and skillful artists, who can draw a magnificent portrait within just few minutes.

An interesting fact - this old Dutch city has two names. The first name is «'s Gravenhage», which is literally translated as "hunting grounds of count". The modern name of the city - «Den Haag» - was approved only in 1990. This word means “hedge". These names reflect the love that the inhabitants feel for the magnificent nature of this place. The locals are very careful to the environment; in Hague often take place events, which cover most urgent environmental issues. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

Den Haag is the heart of the political power in the Netherlands. For many years, this city is playing an important role as the international political center. Annually, on the third Tuesday of September, you will have the chance to see the official The Opening of the New Parliamentary Year, or Prinsjesdag here. So, on the third Tuesday of September, the royal family in the well-known Gold Carriage accompanied by an honorable escort drives up to the parliament building - Binnenhof. The monarch officially opens new parliamentary year, saying an annual speech and greeting people. The greeting discloses the information regarding plans of the government, and the state and the size of the budget of the country for a new parliamentary year. The Gold Carriage goes at noon from the Noordeinde Palace and arrives at the parliament building about one o'clock in the afternoon. The speech of the regal person begins exactly at one o'clock in the afternoon. The center of Den-Haag, in the day of celebration, is extremely brisk and overcrowded. It even does not matter for local people if there will be a rain.

Within a year, the residents of Den-Haag are happy to celebrate the mass of interesting and peculiar holidays which attract tourists and leave the mass of bright impressions. So, on April 29 the celebration called Royal Night begins in the evening. Residents go out to the streets, sing and dance, drink beer, enjoy snacks and fresh pastries. The holiday lasts all night long, the most strong citizens go home only after dawn. Next day, the celebration continues. All the local people, as well as tourists put on the outfits of orange color and continue a solemn procession along streets. During the summertime, you can enjoy various music festivals that take place here, in the city of Den Haag. The first one and the most popular - Parkpop. If you are the fan of pop music, start booking the ticket right now! Do you like to fish, or what about herring? Perhaps, the most unusual Herring Festival, which the residents celebrate at the end of May. It proceeds for one day when during the celebration all the citizens eat hundreds of kegs of young herring. According to the tradition, the first keg is presented to the Queen. Forget about your diet when coming here!

The period from the end of May till the beginning of July is famous for its well-known North Sea Regatta. This spectacular event collects not only a great number of the viewers but also the best world representatives of this sport, people who are interested in fighting for the first prize. This event lasts for more than a week, during which there is a set of various events. One more bright event, during which you will have a lot of fun is the Tong-Tong fair. This event is the mix of a cultural festival and trading fair. You will find here several big tents and platforms under the open sky. During the fair, all guests will be able to purchase various Asian souvenirs, taste a large number of original Asian dishes, enjoy the performances from five various theaters of Den-Haag. The Tong-Tong fair by right is considered the largest Eurasian festival, having attended which, you receive a set of unforgettable impressions.