Dutch Veterans Day Festivals
On Saturday, 25 June thousands of veterans from all over the country will descend upon The Hague to take part in the seventh annual Dutch Veterans Day. Although Dutch Veterans Day focuses on acknowledging and showing appreciation for war veterans, the event also features many activities that are fun and exiting for everyone. There will be festivities at Malieveld, a huge parade and a ‘fly past’ of many different kinds of jets, airplanes and helicopters over the Hofvijver.
In order to warm up the audience, a team of parachutists will be touching down in the Hofvijver on Friday, 24 June at 13.00 hrs. right in front of the prime minister’s office tower. Don’t miss it! Your best vantage point if from the Korte and Lange Vijverberg.
Parade and ‘fly past’
Veterans Day on 25 June will be officially opened in the Ridderzaal followed by a colourful parade of veterans and paratroopers around The Hague’s Hofvijver. H.R.H. Prince Willem Alexander will take the salute from the parade on the Kneuterdijk. The procession will include 3,000 veterans and military personnel, 17 marching bands, modern defence systems and vintage vehicles. During this parade the Royal Dutch Air Force will perform a spectacular ‘fly past’ from Malieveld towards the Hofvijver in both modern and historic aircraft.
The parade route will start at 13.20 hours from Malieveld and go along the Korte Voorthout and Lange Voorhout to Kneuterdijk. From here a number of tribunes will line the route. Hereafter the route will proceed via the Hofweg, Spui, Kalvermarkt, Fluwelen Burgwal, Herengracht and the Prinsessegracht, back in the direction of Malieveld
Between 9.30 and 16.30 hrs. Malieveld will form the nucleus of the Dutch Veterans Day festivities. Visitors can meet veterans, take part in sporting activities and look at all kinds of exhibitions. There will be rugged motorbikes, and you’ll be able to sit in vintage vehicles and vessels, test your fitness on the assault course and make sand sculptures. Children can knock themselves at Kamp Kids and in the activity park with a climbing tower and an F-16 cockpit.
There will also be a large stage at Malieveld for the Veterans Day concert from 14.00 to 16.45 hrs. with performances by Raffaëla, Jeroen van der Boom, Glennis Grace and the Koninklijke Millitaire Kapel (Royal Netherlands Military Band).
Parade and ‘fly past’
Veterans Day on 25 June will be officially opened in the Ridderzaal followed by a colourful parade of veterans and paratroopers around The Hague’s Hofvijver. H.R.H. Prince Willem Alexander will take the salute from the parade on the Kneuterdijk. The procession will include 3,000 veterans and military personnel, 17 marching bands, modern defence systems and vintage vehicles. During this parade the Royal Dutch Air Force will perform a spectacular ‘fly past’ from Malieveld towards the Hofvijver in both modern and historic aircraft.
The parade route will start at 13.20 hours from Malieveld and go along the Korte Voorthout and Lange Voorhout to Kneuterdijk. From here a number of tribunes will line the route. Hereafter the route will proceed via the Hofweg, Spui, Kalvermarkt, Fluwelen Burgwal, Herengracht and the Prinsessegracht, back in the direction of Malieveld
Between 9.30 and 16.30 hrs. Malieveld will form the nucleus of the Dutch Veterans Day festivities. Visitors can meet veterans, take part in sporting activities and look at all kinds of exhibitions. There will be rugged motorbikes, and you’ll be able to sit in vintage vehicles and vessels, test your fitness on the assault course and make sand sculptures. Children can knock themselves at Kamp Kids and in the activity park with a climbing tower and an F-16 cockpit.
There will also be a large stage at Malieveld for the Veterans Day concert from 14.00 to 16.45 hrs. with performances by Raffaëla, Jeroen van der Boom, Glennis Grace and the Koninklijke Millitaire Kapel (Royal Netherlands Military Band).