Thousands of Redheads Attend Annual Redhead Days Festival in the Netherlands
Naturally red-haired individuals from the United Kingdom, Israel, Germany, Italy, and New Zealand descended upon the southern Dutch city of Tilburg for the annual three-day festival dedicated to their amber locks, reports Curacao Nieuws.
According to the festival's organisers, Redhead Days, the event is devoted to "connection, pride, and recognition." Each year, Redhead Days features bonfires, photo zones, portraits, dances, and even an informational session on skin cancer.
"Everything that makes you unique, whether it's red hair or a trait like introversion, is something you should not hide, but rather celebrate with pride and flamboyance, and turn it into your unique advantage," states the festival's website.
This year's redhead gathering adopted the slogan: "A face without freckles is like a night without stars." A large crowd of redheads in matching T-shirts listened to music and took a dip in the pool, relishing beer and grilled meat on a grassy lawn.
The organisers announced that the event attracted around 5,000 redheads. Hibiscus pink was chosen as the primary colour for this year’s meet-up, which, according to the organisers, "looks wonderful on redheads."
30-year-old Scotsman Liam Hunter said attending the three-day festival made him feel better. Like many redheads, Hunter reported facing teasing for his unique hair colour, writes Reuters. "I no longer feel alone; I feel together, a part of something," he said.
In Europe, approximately 1 to 2 percent of people have red hair. A 2019 scientific article notes that the highest concentrations of redheads are in regions such as Wales, Scotland, and Ireland, according to the BBC.
Redhead Days unofficially began in 2005 when its director, artist Bart Ruenghorst, placed a newspaper ad seeking 15 redhead models. Instead, he received registration information from 150 individuals. As Ruenghorst found it difficult to turn down the models, he invited them all for a photo session. This event inspired him to properly organise the festival. In 2013, a Guinness World Record was set for the largest gathering of natural redheads in one photograph, totalling 1,672 people.
Over the years, the festival has seen participation from people from more than 80 countries. Group photos of redhead participants can be viewed on the festival's website.