From pride to paper miracles: 11 great things to do in August

Photo: Holland.com
Photo: Depositphotos.com

Spending your summer at home and looking for some tips for great days out? Here’s some suggestions.

Be proud
The main event in August is Gay Pride or Pride Amsterdam, as it now inclusively styles itself. There are activities galore, such as the Drag queen Olympics and Bear Necessity (for extremely hairy men) with the Canal Parade on August 5 as an exuberant highlight. Until August 6, Amsterdam. Website

Find love in Sloterpark
On August 12 Amsterdam’s Sloterpark becomes Loveland. The line-up includes Tale of Us, Ferro, Sad Girl and many, many others. Website

Party on the beach
The Northsea Summer Festival in coastal resort Katwijk aan Zee is a great family day out which combines music, activities like golf and fitness clinics, a Lego building competition and much more. Free. From August 4 to 12, Katwijk. Website  

Check out some paper miracles
The CODA Paper Art 2017 exhibition demonstrates the wondrous things artists can do with paper. Take Kumi Yamashita from Japan, for example. By tweaking sheets of paper she creates different shadow profiles projected against the wall. Here they are. Until October 29 in Apeldoorn. Website

Enjoy glorious food
The NDSM werf in trendy Amsterdam Noord is hosting Amsterdam Kookt, a four day food fest where you will be able to sample numerous culinary treats but also enjoy live music. And there is Karaoke (with Joke) for the brave. August 4 to 7, Amsterdam. Website

Get fired up in Scheveningen
The annual Scheveningen firework festival takes place over two weekends – 11/12 and 17/18 August – and this year eight countries are taking part in the competition to create the most spectacular firework displays out at sea.

Photo: Holland.com

You can get a good view from a wide stretch of beach but get there early as the shows attract tens of thousands of people. Website

Take in some culture
The Amsterdamse Bostheater presents a tale of political intrigue, plots hatched in back rooms and thwarted ideals. No it’s not the Dutch cabinet formation but Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, with actors Matthijs van de Sande Bakhuyzen, Jip van den Dool, Erik van der Horst, Mattias Van De Vijver, Charlie-Chan Dagelet and Amarenske Haitsma. Until September 9. Website

For the little ones, there’s The Gruffalo by theatre company Meneer Monster. He has orange eyes, a tongue as black as liquorice and purple spines from top to tail. Spoiler: he’s real. From August 15 Website

Take a long walk
August, when so many people are away, is a great time to get out an enjoy the Dutch countryside. We suggested these walks in the winter – but they are pretty good in the summer too.

Marvel at Mongolia
Some 145 precious objects from inner Mongolia, many of which were discovered in the last thirty years, made the journey to Assen to impress and awe once more.

The golden death mask of a princess

The nomadic Liao became a great power in Asia and the mostly funerary objects – ceramics, gold jewellery, gilded horse tack and silver plate- reflect their riches. The Great Liao – Nomadendynastie uit Binnen-Mongolië (907-1125) runs until October 29 at the Drents Museum in Assen Website

Watch a film
The World Cinema Festival has selected four films for its free open air programme this year. EstebanNewton, Mawlana en Wallay (uit Cuba, India, Egypte en Burkina Faso/Frankrijk/Qatar) can be seen at the Vondelpark open air theatre in Amsterdam on August 12, 18 and  19 and at Marie Heinekenplein on August 23 and 26. On August 11 and 12, and this will be a rare treat, the films will be shown in the garden of the Royal Tropical Insitute (KIT). Website

Watch another film
For €5 a pop you can watch films in the open air at Rotterdam’s Pleinbioscoop. The line up includes gems such as Manchester by the Sea (handkerchiefs at the ready), The Shining, Apocalypse Now, Buster Keaton Live and Get Out. From August 9 to 27 at Museumpark. You can bring your own chair or rent one for €1. Cats, dogs and parakeets are welcome too. Website

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