Ambassador Boonpracong and a Thai group during the event.
By Roy Lie A Tjam.
The 11th edition of Thailand Grand Festival took place at “Plein” The Hague on 2-3 July 2016. The festival showcased elements of the Thai cultural and traditional activities such as Thai street food, Thai beverages including beers.
Furthermore, traditional and contemporary music, dances; Muay Thai, handicraft and Thai wellbeing spa and herbs. Artists at the Thai Festival weekend: Akhira Thai Dance, Kru Maew, Khum Ponchai and some others.
For a photo album, please open the following links:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/sets/72157670724192542
https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/albums/72157671390143885
https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/albums/72157671282483836
In his welcome remarks, H.E. Mr. Ittiporn Boonpracong, Ambassador of Thailand described how delighted and honored he was to welcome the audience once again to Thailand Grand Festival in the Netherlands. Several Ambassadors, friends of Thailand, Diplomats and members of international organisations, responded positively to the invitation to the Vin d’honneur to mark the opening of the 11th “Thailand Grand Festival” on 2 July 2016.
The Ambassador continued, ” this is our biggest annual family event which has been held for eleven consecutive years The Thailand Grand Festival is the pride of the Thai community in the Netherlands. It serves primarily to promote people-to-people understanding between the Netherlands and Thailand as well as to strengthen the unity of the Thai community.”
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“The Royal Thai Embassy to the Netherlands attaches a great importance to the unity of people. There are over 20,000 Thais living and working in the Netherlands. The preparation of this event has proven that unity exists not only among Thai community in the Netherlands but also among Government’s offices overseas. In this connection, my heartfelt thank goes to the Office of Commercial Affairs in The Hague, the Office of Agricultural Affairs in Brussels and the Tourism Authority of Thailand in Paris for participating and for always being supportive of our events.”
“This year is a remarkable year for Thai people as in Thailand we are celebrating the 70th anniversary of H.M. King’s accession to the throne on 9 June 2016 and H.M. Queen’s 84th birthday anniversary on 12 August altogether. Therefore, we have for you a touch of celebration, just like in Thailand, with an exhibition of H.M. King at our booth and also H.M. Queen’s color as our backdrop and the theme of the event.”
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Ambassador Ittiporn Boonpracong thanked all who came to join him at the opening reception of the festival. “It means a lot to me” he remarked. “I wish you stay longer to enjoy the rest of the event.”
On the two days program featured: live music, Thai massage, muay Thai or Thai kickboxing show and many more cultural performances.
Ambassador Ittiporn Boonpracong declared the eleventh Thailand Grand Festival open by striking a gong (Khong) A very large crowd listened to Ambassador Ittiporn Boonpracong welcome address. He wishes everyone a great day.
Photography by Mr. Pornsith Pibulnakarintr and Ms. Watanya Singhasa from the Royal Thai Embassy in The Hague and Zohra Moazzam Khan from Diplomat Magazine.
