Holland Festival

2012 Festival - 18th February 2012

HOLLAND FESTIVAL - history

Download PDF : Programme 2012

The first Holland Festival was held in February 1975.
It was then known as “Hollands Glorie”. The Associated
Netherlands Societies in Victoria planned the event as a
fund raiser to promote and support the establishment of
an Aged Care policy for the Dutch Community.
Despite extreme hot conditions, the event was a
resounding success. The 1976 event was held in the
Greaves Reserve in Dandenong, a venue that provided
two large exhibition buildings.

To give the project an International flavour, the Association
also invited artists, dance groups and musicians from other
Ethnic groups to participate. The typical “Dutch gezelligheid”
was created with lots of people enjoying each others company,
food and drinks, music and dancing. “Hollandse Kermis” in Australia
was born. The name “Holland Festival” was given, and it soon
became one of the largest cultural festivals in Victoria.

In 1994 the Festival was moved to Sandown Entertainment Complex, a larger venue that is entirely under roof. The success of the Holland Festival over many years is due to dedicated volunteers, including those from the Associated Clubs in Victoria, working tirelessly for the well being of the Dutch Community.

Traditional Dutch games are played and are available to entertain young and old. There is also an exhibition by “Dutch Australian Heritage Centre”.

The Holland Festival is a marvellous display of Dutch traditions which enrich Australia’s cultural treasure.

The Holland Festival (Dutch Kermis) has been held annually in Melbourne since February 1975. It is organized by the Associated Netherlands Societies in Victoria Inc and run mainly by volunteers from the various clubs making up the Association. The next Festival is on Saturday February 19, 2001, at Sandown Racecourse. Originally a two-day Festival, it was a cultural event, run along the lines of the traditional Dutch ‘kermis’ or fair, held in the various Netherlands towns and cities during the summer months. The profits were distributed to organizations providing aged care for the Dutch community in Victoria through the Council for the Dutch Aged. Although this Council has now been disbanded, the profits are placed into a Trust fund administered by the Association and from which Grants are made from time to time. With typical Dutch entertainment, food and ambiance, the Festival has become a major event on the City of Greater Dandenong calendar, providing a very popular meeting place for people of Dutch background and their families to catch up with friends whom they otherwise not see during the year, and to experience a little bit of Holland each year – especially the grandchildren – by playing the old Dutch games, eating poffertjes, watching the clog dancers and learning more about their heritage. One of the highlights is the grand parade which includes members of the various Carnavals Clubs in their uniforms. The Festival has become a tradition which will continue for as long as there are volunteers to run it.

Judy Overbeek

Judy Overbeek
President