Bollywood on a Boat - an Indian tourism initiative in Amsterdam

King’s Day Amsterdam was recently celebrated on April 27, 2019, and India was a showstopper at the event. King’s Day is celebrated in the honour of the birthday of King Willem-Alexander. The event was attended by thousands of people on the banks of Amsterdam’s three main canals, as they watched Bollywood on a Boat.
The initiative was made in order to promote tourism in India on King’s Day, which is the biggest national holiday in the Netherlands. According to the Indian Embassy at Amsterdam, the tourism initiative was a big hit among people who had come to watch.


Bollywood on a Boat was a celebration of the Bollywood film industry that is hugely popular all over the world. On Amsterdam’s King’s Day celebrations, people lined up the three canals - Prinsengracht, Leidsegracht, and Reguliersgracht. Bollywood on a Boat covered the length of the canals, and there was dance, music, and more for over five hours.
Bollywood on a Boat saw folk dance performances from the Netherlands’ Marathi Mandal, and also various types of folks dances such as dhol, lavani, bihu, bhangra, and ghoomar. The Bollywood on a Boat show was flagged off by Indian Ambassador to Netherlands, Venu Rajamony, alongside other prominent members of Amsterdam.