Chinese New Year Featured in
The Amsterdam's Chinatown meets the Lunar New Year with traditional dances, colorful fireworks, and great Asian food. The celebration usually takes place on Friday and Saturday which is the closest to the date of the New Year around Nieuwmarkt and on Dam Square in the center of Amsterdam. The Lion and Dragon Dance Parade starts at the Fo Guang Shan Buddhist Temple on Zeedijk at around 1 pm Fo Guang Shan usually has a whole cultural program of New Year activities. The parade route goes along the Geldersekade to Nieuwmarkt, where a street party follows the parade. Expect to hear lots of noise from drums, firecrackers, and fireworks.
Asian restaurants in the neighbourhood offer lots of special menus with traditional dishes like whole fish and dumplings. You can try a meal at the Sea Palace floating restaurant or one of the joints at Stormsteeg or Geldersekade. A raw fish (yu sheng) is supposed to bring luck while lettuce and fai-hai salad (seaweed) brings prosperity.
