Why are European festival trips so popular?
When you only have a weekend or a few days to spare, you want to be sure that every moment of your short break will be filled with fun. By choosing to head to the continent and experience one or two of the festivals in Europe, you are guaranteed such a treat.
Europe boasts some of the liveliest and most exciting festivals in the world, with some events originating centuries ago and continuing to stick to long-held traditions, while others are more recent additions to the calendar.
As a result, it is no wonder these occasions have become so popular with tourists and revellers wishing to enjoy a holiday that is a little bit different.
Take Queen's Day in Amsterdam, for example. While in the UK, the occasional jubilee or royal wedding gives cause for national celebration, in the capital of the Netherlands the locals spend the day toasting their royal family every year.
Koninginnedag is celebrated each year on April 30th in honour of Queen Beatrix's official birthday - and you will find the streets are packed with revellers as the event is a national holiday in the country.
As a result, this is the perfect time to visit the city, so you can be part of the million-strong crowd that takes to the streets dressed in bright orange clothes to dance and enjoy themselves.
You will be able to experience street theatre, parades of floats, decorated canal boats, beautiful fireworks and live DJs while you are in the city, with the party kicking off on April 29th and lasting right the way through to the end of the following day.
However, if you prefer to have an early night than stay out partying until dawn, you should make your way as early as possible to the huge flea market that spreads across many of Amsterdam's streets.
From stalls at the side of the roads to blankets spread out in the park, vendors find all sorts of creative ways to sell their wares, and if you rummage around, you are sure to come across a few bargains.
You will also be able to experience many more of Amsterdam's attractions, including the Heineken Factory.
This is just one of the amazing festivals that take place in Europe each year, with others including the carnival Las Fallas, the Pamplona running of the bulls and La Tomatina tomato-throwing fight in Spain and Oktoberfest in Germany.
