NEW YORK, Nov. 29, 2007 (PRIME NEWSWIRE) --
Ongoing THE MASTERPIECES - RIJKSMUSEUM, AMSTERDAM Highlights of the Golden Age: Wonderful dolls' houses, a treasure-trove of silver, the most beautiful Delftware, magnificent militia paintings and, of course, the famous paintings by Jan Steen, Frans Hals, Vermeer and Rembrandt. Over 400 masterpieces tell the impressive story of the political, economic and artistic wonders of the Golden Age. This winter, the Rijksmuseum will be presenting a selection of masterpieces by the 17th-century Amsterdam painter Karel du Jardin. The Rijksmuseum owns one of the world's most representative collections of Du Jardin's paintings. www.rijksmuseum.nl September 21, 2007 - January 20, 2008 BARCELONA 1900 - VAN GOGH MUSEUM, AMSTERDAM In the autumn of 2007 the Van Gogh Museum presents Barcelona 1900, an exhibition about the astonishing transformation of this city in the years 1880-1909 and the flourishing artistic and social life of this period. To a large extent the fame that Barcelona enjoys today is due to its dynamic golden age at the close of the 19th century. Young artists such as Pablo Picasso, Isidre Nonell and Ramon Casas made their mark and connected modernism with a passion for social issues in their art. www.vangoghmuseum.nl October 13, 2007 - May 8, 2008 ART NOUVEAU - HERMITAGE MUSEUM, AMSTERDAM St Petersburg is often seen as the city of Peter and Catherine the Great, a place full of palaces with art from the 17th and 18th centuries. But the city was also part of the European art movements of the 19th and early 20th century. In an unusual exhibition, the Hermitage Amsterdam presents the best of French and Russian Art Nouveau. At the center of the exhibit is the spectacular glasswork of Emile Galle and the Daum brothers. http://www.hermitage.nl/ December 13, 2007 - March 30, 2008 THE WHALE - ZUIDERZEE MUSEUM, ENKHUIZEN This impressive exhibition demonstrates how people's ideas on these magnificent creatures have altered: From an awesome user product to a protected species with a high lovability factor. The Whale exhibition has been realized in conjunction with World Wildlife Fund (WWF). www.zuiderzeemuseum.nl December 22, 2007 - April 20, 2008 HIDDEN AFGHANISTAN - NIEUWE KERK AMSTERDAM In the winter of 2007 and the spring of 2008, the Nieuwe Kerk will present a completely different view of Afghanistan, a country that has been in the news almost daily in recent years. But there is more to Afghanistan than war and destruction. It is a land on which different cultures have left their mark. www.nieuwekerk.nl January 20 - 27, 2008 AIFW, AMSTERDAM INTERNATIONAL FASHION WEEK - AMSTERDAM The Amsterdam fashion week is a young and directional alternative to the world's more traditional fashion weeks, organized twice a year, in January and July. It aims to promote Amsterdam as an inspiring destination for fashion, combining commerce and creativity. www.amsterdamfashionweek.com January 23 - February 3, 2008 INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL - ROTTERDAM The 37th edition of the International Film Festival Rotterdam offers again a quality selection of worldwide independent, innovative and experimental cinema and visual arts. During twelve festival days, hundreds of filmmakers and other artists present their work to a large and devoted audience in 24 screening venues located in the center of Rotterdam. www.filmfestivalrotterdam.com February 23, 2008 - June 8, 2008 DUTCH PORTRAITS - MAURITSHUIS MUSEUM, THE HAGUE More than 55 works by 35 different painters provide an image of the exceptional portraits painted in Holland's Golden Age. The two major masters of the Dutch portrait, Rembrandt and Frans Hals, are amply represented. http://www.mauritshuis.nl/ March 7 - 16, 2008 THE EUROPEAN FINE ART FAIR - MECC, MAASTRICHT (TEFAF MAASTRICHT) In March 2007, Maastricht, the oldest town in Holland, will once again host TEFAF Maastricht, the world's most renowned art and antiques fair. Only the most illustrious of the world's art and antique dealers -- more than 220 eminent dealers from 15 countries -- are invited to exhibit at TEFAF. www.tefaf.com March 20 - May 18, 2008 KEUKENHOF GARDENS - LISSE Every spring, the Keukenhof Gardens are a feast for the eye. Over 7 million tulips and other bulb flowers are in bloom, covering an area of 80 acres. www.keukenhof.nl April 26, 2008 FLOWER PARADE - NOORDWIJK The Dutch version of California's Tournament of Roses Parade! Featuring hundreds of thousands of flower petals sculpted into an array of amazing creations and fantastic floats. From Noordwijk to Haarlem. April 30, 2008 QUEEN'S DAY; THE QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION - HOLLAND Queen Beatrix's birthday celebration is an annual countrywide party that's not to be missed. Enjoy the world's largest flea market in Amsterdam, musical performances and nonstop, good-natured fun wherever you go. May 7 - 12, 2008 ART AMSTERDAM/KUNSTRAI - AMSTERDAM RAI The Art Amsterdam, formerly known as KunstRAI International Art Fair, draws gallery owners and collectors from all over the world to buy new works by European contemporary artists. Galleries from all over Europe will present their exhibits, including paintings, glass, jewelry and ethno graphics. www.kunstrai.nl May 10, 2008 NATIONAL WINDMILL DAY - THROUGHOUT HOLLAND Holland celebrates National Windmill Day. Well over 600 windmills, water mills and pumping stations throughout the country are open to the public on this day. Millers give demonstrations of their activities in and around the mill. May 30 - June 20, 2008 HOLLAND FESTIVAL - AMSTERDAM This year is the 60th anniversary of Holland's largest performing arts festival. It celebrates the end of the cultural season with the best of music, theater, dance, film and opera in superb venues throughout Amsterdam. www.hollandfestival.nl June through August, 2008 VONDELPARK OPEN AIR THEATER, AMSTERDAM The Vondelpark is Amsterdam's largest and most famous city park, located south of the Leidseplein. In the center of the park is an open air theater, which stages all kinds of free performances, workshops, and DJs during the summer. Wednesdays are mainly child oriented, Thursdays there are salsa and tango workshops, and Fridays through Sundays you can find theater and musical performances. June 14 - 21, 2008 AMSTERDAM ROOTS FESTIVAL - AMSTERDAM Each summer, The Amsterdam Roots Festival presents a wide range of global music and non-western culture. For 8 days, the audience is offered a selection of performances, master classes and special projects at several different locations such as Melkweg, Tropentheater, Oosterpark and Concertgebouw. www.amsterdamroots.nl July 1 - 12, 2008 JULIDANS - LEIDSEPLEIN, AMSTERDAM This summer festival of contemporary dance takes place at various stages in the vicinity of the Leidseplein. The best up-and-coming international choreographers of this moment will show their theatrical choreographies in which dance and theater, music and other disciplines merge. www.julidans.com July and August, 2008 CITY BEACHES, AMSTERDAM City beaches are becoming an increasingly popular phenomenon and Amsterdam is one of the best places to find them during the warm weather. Over the summer months, there are a number of beaches open to the public around Amsterdam, such as Blijburg aan Zee, Amsterdam Plage and the newest beach Strand Zuid. July, 2008 DANCE VALLEY, SPAARNWOUDE This year will be the 13th edition of Dance Valley. From all over Europe and even beyond, dance lovers will come to Spaarnwoude to enjoy 2 days of live acts and a whole spectrum of music. There is a campground nearby for those who want to stay the night and enjoy the festival to the fullest. www.dancevalley.nl July 11 - 13, 2008 NORTH SEA JAZZ FESTIVAL - AHOY, ROTTERDAM One of the greatest jazz events in the world, featuring top jazz musicians as well as blues, soul, R&B, crossover and world-music artists. www.northseajazz.nl Early August, 2008 HEINEKEN FAST FORWARD DANCE PARADE - ROTTERDAM During the Heineken FFWD Dance Parade, about 40 trucks packed with sound systems and (inter)national acclaimed DJ's, will find their way through the center of Rotterdam. This free of charge parade attracts over 350,000 spectators, and ends traditionally with a spectacular after party. www.ffwdheinekendanceparade.nl August 1 - 3, 2008 GAY PRIDE - AMSTERDAM The Gay Pride was established in 1995 and is Holland' s most important gay event. Highlight is the Gay Pride Parade. No Gay Pride Parade in any other city compares to Amsterdam's - in spirit, spice or entertainment. What's more, it takes place on the city's canals! www.amsterdamgaypride.nl August 16 - 24, 2008 CANAL FESTIVAL (GRACHTEN FESTIVAL) - AMSTERDAM A summer spectacle for music lovers, filling the Amsterdam summer evenings with classical music. Large crowds of people will gather in the city center to enjoy the free classical concerts on and around the Amsterdam canals. Highlight is the Prinsengracht concert which takes place in front of the Pulitzer hotel. www.grachtenfestival.nl November 3, 2008 MUSEUM NIGHT - AMSTERDAM Amsterdam will once again celebrate Museum Night. More than 40 museums and institutions will open their doors from 7 pm until 2 am! All museums will organize special events. November 20 - 30, 2008 IDFA - INTERNATIONAL DOCUMENTARY FESTIVAL AMSTERDAM - AMSTERDAM One of the world's most prestigious documentary film festivals offers over 200 high-quality documentaries and an extensive program filled with workshops, readings and forums about the aspects of documentary filming. www.idfa.nl November 23 - 30, 2008 PAN AMSTERDAM - RAI, AMSTERDAM The RAI in Amsterdam hosts this Annual Art and Antiques Fair, featuring a myriad of intriguing finds and rare delights. www.pan-amsterdam.nl
For more information, please visit: www.holland.com