Hotels in Amsterdam

Elephant Parade to be held in September in Amsterdam

September 2009 will witness a unique open air exhibition of artificial elephants on the streets of Amsterdam. The event we are talking about is called Elephant Parade and it aims to supporting the conservation of elephants in Asia.

The brain child of father and son Marc and Mike Spits, the Elephant Parade project has already tasted huge success in Rotterdam and Antwerp having raised a total of €700.000 in response. The amount will be donated to ‘The Elephant Family’, the world’s largest organization supporting elephants.

The artificial elephants will be distributed among various hotspots of Amsterdam from 5 September to 31 October including places like Museumplein, Nieuwezijds Voorburgwal,
Koningsplein, Westermarkt, Jodenbreestraat. Kalvertoren (shopping), Amstelveld, Frederiksplein and Nieuwmarkt.

Christie’s auction house will auction the elephants at the culture park Westergasterrein. A major sponsor, the design furniture brand Topform, has already acquired 30 out of the hundred artificial elephants which are life-sized models of baby elephants on three-dimensional artistic canvases. They will be painted by internationally renowned designers and artists like Cornelie, Rob Scholte and Menno Bars.

If, as a visiting tourist, you are not able to fit one in your suitcase, you can still take home a painted pachyderm. Miniature replicas (10 to 75 cm high) will be available at several selling points, including the Kalvertoren shopping centre off Kalverstraat.