The Summer Carnival in Rotterdam was celebrated with a joyful atmosphere, drawing tens of thousands of attendees to the city's center. The vibrant street parade,

led by Queen Larisa and King Gillian, was a highlight of the event. According to organizers from Rotterdam Unlimited, this year’s edition was "fantastic," aided by the favorable weather. "It was a big party all over the city. Nothing negative, just happy people," a spokeswoman remarked.

The police echoed this positive sentiment. "It's nice, the atmosphere is good," said a police spokeswoman. Unlike previous years, there was no evening program on the Coolsingel, but various parties took place across the city following the street parade.

Last year's Summer Carnival was marred by several violent incidents, including shootings and stabbings, leading to the decision to limit evening festivities to controlled environments. The city council opted against a large, open party without admission controls. Despite these changes, several clubs organized their own parties.

By early evening on Saturday, police reported eight arrests: two for brawls and six for other public order disturbances. The police spokeswoman noted that this number was relatively low compared to typical weekend days.

This year's street parade marked its 40th occurrence and was recently added to UNESCO's list of intangible cultural heritage. Many groups participating in the parade have been involved since its inception.

The popular Summer Carnival in Rotterdam celebrates diverse cultures through tropical carnival expressions similar to those found in the Antilles. The first editions took place in Utrecht in 1982 and 1983, where several Antillean carnival associations from Rotterdam, Utrecht, and Amsterdam paraded on the Jaarbeursplein. Since 1984, the colorful Summer Carnival has been a vibrant fixture in Rotterdam. Photo by Luke Price from Rotterdam, Netherlands, Wikimedia commons.