Netherlands

Pinkpop, the oldest pop festival in Europe, has been taking place in the Netherlands since 1970.Now in its 38th year, each year the three-day event welcomes around 60,000 people keen to see a fantastic line-up, which in 2008 includes headliners Metallica, Foo Fighters and Rage Against the Machine.Held this year from May 30th until June 1st, like any good festival, weekend ticket-holders can pitch their tents in the fully-equipped campsite.This will be the first time the event does not occur on Pentecost weekend, due to it falling early this yearThe fun takes place at Landgraaf Megaland Park in Limburg, 134 miles from Amsterdam and close-by to the city of Heerlen.Other performances, each of which take place on one of a host of stages around the venue, include shows from a host of British acts such as the Editors, Kaiser Chiefs, KT Tunstall, Kate Nash and the Stereophonics.There are a number of music festivals that take place in the Netherlands throughout the year, including Breda Jazz Festival in May, Amsterdam Roots Festival in June and the free Parkpop in the Hague at the end of June.

The Hague celebrates the introduction of new Dutch legislation outlawing smoking in public places with an expo about cigarettes.Gemeentemuseum in The Hague hosts this exhibition from Tuesday to Sunday from 12:00 to 18:00, local time, until October 19th.Artefacts and items related to smoking are shown at the museum alongside paintings, photos and drawings.On display are an ashtray by self-confessed chain smoker Piet Mondrain and a picture from Adolphe Mouilleron which shows children stealing a drag.A poster shows Paul Schuitema's miracle ashtray, which apparently did not give off a smell.Theo van Hoytema's artwork shows frogs smoking on a lily pad.No Smoking also concentrates on how smoke can be used artistically by photographers.It almost rivals England's exhibition marking the country kicking the habit - The Big Smoke at the City of London Museum.Christopher Columbus introduced tobacco to Europe after making contact with smokers on his travels.Entry costs €5 (£3.98) with concessions €3. Admission for under 18s is free.The law came into effect on July 1st across the Netherlands this year.There are many cheap hotels in The Hague, which is the third largest city in the Netherlands and is part of the metropolitan area known as the Randstad, which also contains Amsterdam, Utrecht and Rotterdam.

In an annual celebration, the residents of Brielle in the Netherlands remember its liberation from Spanish rule after a successful revolt in 1572.Re-enacting the events of the revolt form a central part of the celebration on April 1st and families dress up in 16th-century costumes to mark the occasion.The town was liberated by an army of pirates called Watergeuzen, who worked with Willem Van Oranie (William of Orange) to overthrow the Spaniards in the Netherlands.Celebrations centre around a five-scene play in difference parts of Brielle, re-enacting the crucial events of the day, climaxing with the final scene which sees the surrender of the Spanish and the hanging of their commander.Following the performances, residents continue to celebrate in local pubs. Brielle is an old fortified town in the west of the Netherlands. The capture of the town marked a turning point in the Eighty Years War between the Netherlands and Spain.

Travel News brought to you by Eurobookings, the experts in cheap hotel bookings for all major European cities including Rotterdam.Military tattoos are becoming rarer and rarer. Edinburgh recently fought funding threats with an impromptu concert to prevent the show from closure.This is why watching one of the last remaining tattoos is all the more important, especially with the difficulties the military face today.The Netherlands Military Tattoo has been described as one of Europe's greatest events, hosting six of the best bands from different parts of the armed forces.Marines, the army, reserves, air force and military police all pay tribute to other servicemen and women at Rotterdam's Sportpalace Hall from September 24th to 28th.Bagpipes and drums will create the tempo for dance groups, acrobatic acts and flag shows.The word tattoo derives its name from the old Dutch term "den tap toe" which literally means "turn off the tap" (at the tavern) and refers to the music used to call personnel to duty.The inspector of military music for the Dutch armed forces Colonel Pieter Jansen takes the helm of this year's tattoo following the retirement of Lieutenant Colonel Gert Jansen.©CopyrightTreat yourself to one of the best hotels in Rotterdam. Because you deserve a break.