Dutch lovers’ Orange crush Traditional Dutch dancers at the Holland Festival.

– Sarah Schwager
THE biggest Dutch festival in the Southern Hemisphere, the Holland Festival, attracted visitors from around the country who dusted off their clogs and swarmed to Springvale on the weekend.
A combination of traditional Dutch food, music, games, and local and overseas entertainment made the 32nd event at Sandown Entertainment Centre a big success.
A sea of orange, Holland’s national colour, spread through the crowd as thousands of people gathered to share in their national pride on Saturday and Sunday.
The Victorian Accordion Orchestra, the Bay City Clog Dancers, Victoria Police Band, Ad van Hoorn and the Melbourne Tukkers were just some of the groups performing at the event.
Visitors were also treated to a big carnival parade, magic shows and market stalls.
Springvale North Ward councillor Alan Gordon said the amount of people at the festival was amazing and it had been great to join in with such a cheerful crowd.
Cr Gordon said many people had come from interstate and country areas, which had been a big boost for Greater Dandenong’s economy, with visitors staying at local hotels and dining at local restaurants.
He said there was a very large Dutch population in Dandenong and he hoped council would consider funding the festival in the future.