Last year I found out that the Norwegian seamen churches in Holland- which as the other Nordic seamen churches organise Christmas markets around November – also hosts national day – 17th May – celebrations, and that is according to the Norwegian tradition: hotdogs, a parade, and games for children!
The Norwegian seamen church of the Netherlands is located in Rotterdam, with a nice park where the parade takes place. So I had a trip there to check it out, equipped with my Norwegian flag!
I arrived there slightly after the start of the program (thanks train), so I missed seeing the flag being raised.
People, a lot dressed in their beautiful bunads, were entering the building, where you could get cakes, stuff as flags and løyse (brooches/ribbons), and waffles or hotdogs outside. I got my vaffel and as I could I just went a bit mad with jam and brunost toppings..
As follows 2025 17 mai Program:
- 11:00 Flaggheising – flag raising
- 12:00 Gudstjeneste – church service
- 13:00 Taler for dagen – speeches of the day, among others the ambassador
- Folketog – parade,
- grilling, leker, pølse i lompe – parades, bbq, games
- celebrations closing at 16:30
Just as the parade in the park with the marching band was starting, i got my pølse i lompe, hotdog in a wrap!
Who knows, maybe I’ll be back for 2026! Stay tuned to find out about more Nordic events!
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