I.A. Kuwait, Tanzania, Uzbekistan, Republic of Korea, Kosovo and Senegal
With nearly seventy participating countries, the two-day Embassy Festival will be bigger than ever this year. There isn’t an event in the world where somany embassies unite to present and celebrate culture. Thanks to the collaborations with the embassies, the Embassy Festival is able to present an authentic and worldly experience with four stages offering music (classical, traditional and contemporary) and dance.
There’s also an International Market present with many culinary and cultural discoveries to be made. The free festival will take place on Friday 6 and Saturday 7 September at the Lange Voorhout in The Hague. Although most embassies reside in The Hague – The International City of Peace and Justice – there are also more and more embassies from Brussels that have joined in. Mongolia, Nepal, Uzbekistan and Haiti will make their way to The Hague to participate in the colorful unity that the Embassy Festival inhabits.
A culinary adventure is a given when visiting the Embassy Festival. Cozonaci (Romania), Biko (Phillipines), Dolma (Azerbaijan), Banhm (Vietnam), Sirnica (Bosnia & Herzegovina), Khachapuri (Georgia) and Kürbiskernöl (Australia) are just some of the delicious treasures that can be tasted and discovered. And it’s not just one’s taste buds that are in for a treat.
The countries participating have much more up their sleeve to tickle the curiosity of its visitors. Want to know more about Uzbekistan or Azerbaijan? The Embassy Festival offers that opportunity. And you can hop onboard this two-day trip of cultural adventures with more countries than ever before.
Nearly seventy countries are represented this year, with eightnew entries. Kuwait, Tanzania, Uzbekistan, Republic of Korea, Kosovo, Senegal, Nigeria and Denmark will make their debut this year.
Culture Unites
Walking around the Embassy Festival shows visitors how culture unites. An example of what’s to be expected: At the festival you will see stars shine and perform from Palestine (Faraj Suleiman), Australia (Anna Smith), Morocco (Mâalem Reda Stitou) and Israel (Boom Pam).
Ambassadors roll up their sleeves and put on an apron to help prepare delicious meals from their home countries. Women from Bosnia and Herzegovina dancing dressed in traditional clothing. It’s not uncommon to find yourself dancing in a spontaneously organized South-African party and to then be swept away by several other countries that are celebrating their heritage on the International Market.
You can taste bites and drinks from all over the world. Our youngest visitors will also be entertained at this family-friendly festival. At the Kids Compound or at one of the many pavilions inhabited by all the countries present.
Children will have their own voyage of discovery to experience. By painting Nón Lá’s (Vietnamese conical hats), or by taking a picture with Joulupukki (Finland’s very own Santa Claus) or by getting a henna tattoo at the Saudi-Arabia stand. You won’t want it to stop.
Facts & Figures
Last year, the Embassy Festival attracted more than 60.000 visitors. The festival brings together the richness of nearly seventy participating countries and seduces its visitors to meet with each other, to step outside the familiar and to indulge themselves in sea of culture. In The Hague – City of Peace and Justice, The Embassy Festival proves that culture creates unity and causes amazement.
Participating countries: Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Finland, Georgia, Ghana, Guatemala, Haiti, Hungary, Ireland, India, Israel, Indonesia, Japan, Kenya, Kosovo, Kuwait, Malaysia, Mexico, Mongolia, Nepal, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Palestine, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Republic of Korea, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, Sint Maarten, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Sudan, Sweden, Switzerland, Tanzania, Thailand, Tunisia, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, Vietnam and Yemen.
Quotes
Quote Rawan Sulaiman – Head of Mission State of Palestine: “The Embassy festival brings together people from across the world to showcase their culture, food, music, and dance. For me, participating in the festival is a great opportunity to share with people from all over the world a taste of Palestine. It is heart-warming to see people learning about and experiencing other cultures by exploring the lovely colours, rich flavours and traditional customs of different countries. The Embassy festival is a brilliant mean to celebrate diversity, difference and tolerance in The Hague, the city of justice and peace.”
Quote visitor Philip: “I’m from El Salvador, one of the participating countries. Every year, me and my El Salvadorian friends meet at the festival. We live all over the Netherlands, so it’s a great day to get together and enjoy our culture, the food and the music. I know a group of Mexicans that do the same. An annual reunion!”
EMBASSY FESTIVAL 2019
FRIDAY 6 SEPTEMBER | 17.00 – 23.30: world music, dance on two stages | Bites & Drinks
SATURDAY 7 SEPTEMBER | 12.00 – 20.00: International Market, Classical Stage, Contemporary Stage, Container Stage, Creative Arena, Kids Compound | Bites & Drinks
LANGE VOORHOUT, THE HAGUE | FREE | WEBSITE: WWW.EMBASSYFESTIVAL.COM
