On March 18, 2023, the Rotary Club of Casey, Vic, will once again run the Holland Festival at the Berwick Showgrounds, Akoonah Park. The festival ran for 40 years until 2014 and was then re-ignited very successfully as a Rotary fundraiser in 2017, 2019 and 2020, each time attracting between 4,000 and 5,000 visitors.
The Dutch love their food and there will be plenty on offer, with more than 40 Dutch food vendors locked in.
Live entertainment has been planned from 10.30am to 6pm. There will be bands, choirs, singers and more performing in both Dutch and English, as well as cultural exhibitions about the legacy of Anne Frank, People Movement from the Netherlands to Australia, and the 70-year history of the Dutch Courier newspaper. SBS Dutch radio will also be there and usually interview people live on the radio.
An all-day Sjoelbak Tournament, a fun Dutch shuffleboard game for all age groups, is also planned, with wonderful prizes for the winners. Carnival rides for the under 12s and other children’s amusements are included in the entry price, as are amusements for older children, and there will be many other Dutch experiences.
More than 70 vendors and exhibitors have signed up to date, and there will even be an AFL International presence for a Dutch AFL team!
Several charities will be present to talk to the public and will receive several thousand tulip bulbs from the festival’s sponsors to sell as fundraisers.
This year’s event will be a collaborative Rotary effort, with the Rotary Club of Dandenong-Endeavour Hills managing parking on the day and the Rotary Club of Monash handling all logistics. In total, more than 100 volunteers will ensure the day runs smoothly.
The Rotary Club of Casey thanks the City of Casey for its support of the festival and all sponsors who have made this successful multi-cultural event possible. Come help them celebrate Dutch heritage in Australia on March 18!
For more information visit www.hollandfestival.org.au or email info@hollandfestival.org.au. Tickets can be purchased via the website. Volunteers from any Rotary club are welcome and can sign up at www.hollandfestival.org.au/volunteer-applications