FEATURE/Major Events in Holland in 2003; Holland Beckons with New Experiences and a Warm Welcome.

Feature Editors/Business Editors

FEATURE...

--(BUSINESS WIRE)

The small sampling of events on this list make clear that there are numerous reasons to make Holland your travel destination in 2003. Visit Holland and experience the most appreciated Dutch tradition of all --a warm and memorable welcome.

Jan - April       Amsterdam Winter Adventure
                  Winter sizzles in the warmth of Amsterdam, as this
                  world-favorite city thrills with an array of
                  history, culture and museum exhibitions.

Feb. 14 - June 15 Van Gogh 150 - Vincent's Choice
                  Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam
                  "Vincent's Choice" is one of three exhibitions
                  celebrating Vincent van Gogh's 150th birthday. This
                  exhibit will focus on around 200 works by artists
                  Van Gogh admired and the visitor will be surprised
                  by the painter's eclectic taste. His heroes ranged
                  from Old Masters such as Rembrandt and Ruisdael to
                  academic contemporaries like Jean-Leon Gerome, and
                  from his great role models Millet and Delacroix to
                  his friends Toulouse-Lautrec, Signac and Seurat.
                  Works by these artists will be shown together with
                  Van Gogh's pictures to show the connection between
                  inspiration and end result.

Feb. 14-Oct 12    Van Gogh 150 - Vincent and Helene: the significance
                  of Van Gogh in the Kroller-Muller collection.
                  Kroller-Muller Museum, Otterlo
                  This exhibition will focus on what compelled
                  Helene Kroller-Muller to acquire so many works by
                  Van Gogh and why precisely these works? It is a
                  personal and until now little investigated story.

Feb 15 - May 18   Organic Architecture
                  Beurs van Berlage, Amsterdam
                  The Beurs van Berlage will be staging the exhibition
                  "Organic architecture. Man and nature as building
                  inspiration." This architectural movement arose
                  around 1900 and is characterized by free, expressive
                  and natural designs. The Beurs will be presenting a
                  retrospective on organic architecture in Europe,
                  with works by famous architects such as Antoni
                  Gaudi, Rudolf Steiner and Alvar Aalto, and by two
                  Dutchmen, Ton Alberts and Max van Huut.

March 14 - 23     The European Fine Art Fair (TEFAF) in Maastricht
                  The European Fine Art Fair (TEFAF), considered to be
                  the world's most prestigious art and antiques fair,
                  is returning to Maastricht, the oldest city in
                  Holland. Some 200 dealers from 13 countries will
                  exhibit museum quality works of art, from Old
                  Masters to modern art. In 2002, more than 75,000
                  visitors were treated to a feast for the eye, with
                  works unequalled in scope, diversity and of absolute
                  top quality. Feel free to browse or become the proud
                  owner of a work of art.

March 21 - May 18 Keukenhof Gardens in Lisse
                  These 70 spectacular acres and some 7 million blooms
                  have been a must for nature-lovers the world over
                  since 1949. The gardens are located in the midst of
                  the bulb-growing district between Leiden and
                  Amsterdam.

April 26          Flower Parade
                  The Dutch version of California's Tournament of
                  Roses Parade! Featuring hundreds of thousands of
                  flower petals sculpted into an array of amazing
                  creations and fantastic floats. From Noordwijk to
                  Haarlem.

April 30          Queen's Day; The Queen's Birthday
                  Queen Beatrix's birthday is an annual countrywide
                  party that's not to be missed. Enjoy the world's
                  largest flea market in Amsterdam, musical
                  performances and nonstop, good-natured fun wherever
                  you go. Don't miss the orange colored baked goods
                  and treats!

May 10            National Windmill Day & National Cycling Day
                  Windmills across the country open their doors to
                  visitors, while towns organize special cycling
                  routes and tours.

June 5 - 29       Holland Festival in Amsterdam
                  This 56th annual, month-long celebration of the arts
                  features the best of music, theater and dance in
                  superb venues throughout Amsterdam.

June 27 - Oct. 12 Van Gogh 150 - GOGH Modern
                  Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam
                  "Gogh Modern", Vincent van Gogh and Contemporary
                  Art, the second exhibit in the Van Gogh Museum
                  celebrating the 150th birthday, will include work by
                  important post-war artists who have a special
                  relationship with Van Gogh or whose art would be
                  unthinkable without him. The show will comprise
                  paintings in which the method clearly demonstrates
                  Van Gogh's influence and will also include a
                  selection of works by artists who sought to steer
                  modern art in a new direction, like Van Gogh. The
                  exhibition is designed to show how topical Van
                  Gogh's work remains and how he continues to play and
                  important role in contemporary art production.

July 11-13        North Sea Jazz Festival in The Hague
                  The North Sea Jazz Festival is the granddaddy of
                  Holland's many jazz festivals. Justly world famous,
                  this year's swinging extravaganza headlines top
                  performers on over a dozen stages.

August 2          Gay Pride Parade, Amsterdam
                  No Gay Pride Parade in any other city compares to
                  Amsterdam's-- in spirit, spice or entertainment.
                  What's more, it takes place on the city's canals.

August 15 -       Hans Holbein the Younger, Mauritshuis Museum The
November 16       Hague
                  Painter at the court of Henry VIII
                  An exhibition of the life and work of the famous
                  16th century artist Hans Holbein the Younger
                  (1497/8-1543). The Mauritshuis is the only museum in
                  Holland to own two paintings by this master and in
                  addition about 20 paintings, 3 miniatures and 20
                  drawings will be on display.

August 28-31      Preuvenemint, Maastricht
                  22nd Culinary Festival on the famous Vrijthof
                  Square, with more than 35 renowned participating
                  restaurants and live music.

October 19 -      PAN Amsterdam 2003
October 26        The RAI in Amsterdam hosts this Annual Art and
                  Antiques Fair, featuring a myriad of intriguing
                  finds and rare delights.

November 8        Museum Night in Amsterdam
                  34 of Amsterdam's most popular museums open their
                  doors until 2:00 a.m. Stunning permanent collections
                  are on display, along with many special exhibitions
                  and presentations.

January 1, 2004   Polar Bear Dive, Scheveningen
                  Start the new year with a frosty dive and join the
                  annual New Year's Day swim in the North Sea, near
                  The Hague, followed by pea soup lunch.

For more information on these and other events, visit www.holland.com (click on special interest, events).

For travel information on Holland, please contact the Netherlands Board of Tourism:

-- Toll Free: 1-888-GO HOLLAND (1-888-464-6552).

-- E-mail: [e-mail].

-- Website: www.holland.com