Netherlands: Events

A cold January invites endless speculation about the nation-stopping Elfstedentocht (Eleven Cities Race; www.elfstedentocht.nl), a gruelling 200km (124mi) ice skating marathon. The last one was held in 1997, and it could be decades before it freezes over again. Carnaval in February is an excuse for silly costumes and revelling celebrated mostly in the Catholic south. Koninginnedag (Queen's Day), on April 30, is a huge party day countrywide, but particularly in Amsterdam. The whole central city becomes a massive street market/party where anyone can sell whatever they like - it's a madhouse. On the second Saturday in May nearly every working windmill in the country (more than 600 in total) throws open its doors to visitors. The event, known as Nationale Molendag (National Mill Day), is a popular day for all and sundry. The Holland Festival (www.hollandfestival.nl) in June is celebrated mostly in Amsterdam and The Hague. It's often highbrow but there are many fringe events. The Hague's North Sea Jazz Festival (www.northseajazz.nl) each July is the world's biggest jazz junket.

Nijmegen attracts revellers from all over for the country's hugest walking festival. The Vierdaagse (Four Day March; www.4daagse.nl) is a major event for serious walkers and partygoers alike, starting on the third Tuesday in July. The event is ushered in and drawn to a close by the Zomerfeesten (Summer Festival), which begins on the Saturday before Vierdaagse.

Sinterklaas (Saint Nicholas) is the white-bearded patron saint of children who arrives 'from Spain' in mid-November. He is accompanied by a host of mischievous servants called Zwarte Pieten (Black Peters). On the evening of 5 December, people give one another anonymous gifts accompanied by poems about the recipient, written by Sinterklaas. The Dutch sensibly have two Christmas Days (on 25 and 26 December). Fireworks are only allowed to be sold in the days preceding New Year's Eve - there are hundreds of injuries each drunken, crackin', bangin' 31 December.