On the picture H.E. Guillermo Piña Contreras, Ambassador of the Dominican Republic, with his wife Françoise.
By Joe Ray.
Thousands braved the elements on Saturday 5th September to attend the third annual Embassy Festival at the Laange Voorhout in The Hague. The famous tree-lined boulevard buzzed with activity, as a steady stream of visitors enjoyed the immense array of cultural delights on display.
For a photo-album on the Embassy Festival, please click here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/albums/72157656066669333
The festival, organised by LIFE I LIVE BV in close collaboration with The Municipality of The Hague’s Department of International Affairs, Diplomat Magazine and the city’s numerous embassies, offered attendees a rare opportunity to encounter in a single place the multitude of distinctive national cultures which together comprise The Hague’s international community.
Some thirty embassies were present at this year’s event, each proudly showcasing their respective nations’ traditional food, drink, music and dress. Their efforts and enthusiasm did not go unrewarded; ambassadors, students, locals and tourists were all out in force, keen to make the most of this uniquely international experience.
Hungarian wine, Jordanian herbs, and Thai beer were but a few of the diverse offerings to be savoured by the event’s many visitors. They ambled from stall to stall, sampling Egyptian tea or Slovakian sausage, engrossed in the latest issue of Diplomat Magazine, serenaded by charming Bolivian folk music, or captivated by elegant Russian ballet.
Despite sporadic downpours, a vibrant and convivial atmosphere was the hallmark of the day. Organisers, participating embassies, and sponsors should be congratulated on the success of what has become an unmissable fixture in The Hague’s cultural calendar.
