In September, the world's largest beer festival Oktoberfest (Octoberfest) will take place again. This year, Oktoberfest will start on September 16. On this day, 18 days of tradition and celebration will be launched. The last day coincides with German Unity Day on October 3. This makes the festival longer than the normal duration of 16 days.
Many Dutch people will travel to Germany in September 2017 to celebrate the festivities on the Theresiaweide in Munich. Dancing and partying in one of the large beer tents with a liter mug in their hand is something that everyone should experience at least once. That Oktoberfest is not only about drinking a lot of beer is not clear to many people. Oktoberfest is also about the age-old traditions, the Oktoberfest clothing and the activities surrounding it. At 11 in the morning you join the tent and are entertained for hours. Oktoberfest is a major tourist attraction that people come to from all over the world. In the 18 days, Oktoberfest will attract more than 6 million people. That is a lot of liters of beer and wine that are consumed.
Oktoberfests are also celebrated in the Netherlands. Almost every major city has an Oktoberfest. For example, the Dutch Oktoberfest, Traditionelles Oktoberfest Den Bosch and the Foute Oktoberfest are held.
The dirndl dress for women or the lederhosen for men is the clothing that is worn during the Oktoberfest. It is the traditional Bavarian costume that contributes to that extra bit of atmosphere every year. This clothing is not only worn during the Oktoberfest, in southern Germany and Austria dirndls and lederhosen are often worn during church festivals. In some regions lederhosen are even worn as normal clothing. This is not entirely strange. The lederhose is namely a pair of trousers that last a long time and is therefore perfect for men who work a lot on the land.
