The 2025 Dutch Carnival Parades lit up towns across the Netherlands on March 2, offering vibrant displays of community spirit, colorful costumes, and elaborate floats. From Zwolle to Kwakveen, each parade showcased unique themes, engaging participants and thousands of spectators eager to celebrate this cherished tradition.
Starting the festivities, Zwolle hosted the 49th edition of the Sassendonk parade, one of the city's highlights. With around 39 floats and walking groups, the streets were alive with laughter and cheer. Many spectators adorned themselves with costumes just as colorful as those on the floats, creating an atmosphere of joy. Among the floats, one made headlines, featuring representations of notable figures like former U.S. President Donald Trump and Elon Musk. The float playfully invoked humor around Trump's ambitions to annex territories, with the banner reading: "Zwolle is van mie." This fusion of humor and topical relevance exemplifies how carnival parades not only entertain but also reflect current societal issues.
Meanwhile, in Voorhout, the local carnival association CV De Bokken threw what they called the largest parade of Teylingen. The sun shone brightly on the colorful procession through the town, following its route from Prins Bernhardstraat to Professor Nolenslaan. Before the parade, kiddie festivities set the scene, allowing families and children to enjoy the carnival spirit before the main event began. "Alaaf!" was the rallying cry as participants celebrated the atmosphere, traveling on foot to the sporting area where the big tent awaited, promising festivities well beyond the parade.
Boekel joined the fun with its own parade, marching through town starting at 2:00 PM from the local mill, concluding at St Agathaplein. The event garnered attention as many planned to view it later on local TV channels, ensuring those unable to attend could still enjoy the spectacle. Notably, the committee responsible for the parade arranged for several award presentations post-event, as they recognized the hard work and creativity put forth by local participants. The parade carrots were clearly driven by community involvement and enthusiasm, with crowds gathering along the streets to support their neighbors and friends.
Meanwhile, the Mill parade invited lively interactions between spectators and participants, with many communities encouraged to reduce waste during the celebrations. Organizers distributed waste bags to residents along the parade route, promoting environmental responsibility alongside merriment. With colorful decorations and balloons enhancing the ambiance, the festival sought to balance fun with sustainable practices, paving the way for environmentally friendly carnivals.
Also worthy of note was the Zwaag parade, touted as the largest north of the rivers, featuring 55 walking groups and floats. This year's event marked its 50th occurrence, adding historical significance to the celebration. The competitors eagerly anticipated who would succeed last year's winners, De Wicky’s, who captivated the audience with their grand float. Local television stations broadcast the parade live, allowing even more viewers to appreciate the artistic displays created by local groups over months of planning.
At the heart of the carnival spirit was the Kwakveen parade, drawing tens of thousands of visitors who reveled together. Among the crowd was 87-year-old Riet Stolwijk, who expressed her enjoyment of the colorful festivities, reminiscing about previous years. Dressed festively, she expressed the sentiment shared among attendees; it's about joy, community, and escaping the negativity of the outside world. The festival fosters connections, as locals come together to embrace their community through shared experiences, laughter, and occasionally, lively music.
René, another participant from Kwakveen, revealed how his group changed their float's theme amid recent events. Initially geared toward U.S. politics with the slogan "Make America Great Again," they swiftly adapted to local sentiments by focusing instead on ecological concerns with their theme of „Make Kwakveen green again.” They distributed tulips instead of flags, appreciating the power festivities can hold to communicate local environmental agendas.
Overall, the 2025 Dutch Carnival Parades underscored how deeply cherished these events are within Dutch culture. They vividly portray the identities and aspirations of local communities, bringing people together across generations. Traditionally steeped and joyfully creative, the parades invite everyone to partake, offering welcome respites from everyday life and forging unbreakable bonds of community through celebration and cultural expression.