2017 Review

Around 33,000 people got involved in 230 events in 13 countries. These were organised by an established and unique cooperation of government, NGO, science and business sectors. In a highly effective social media campaign run by the EC Directorate-General for Environment, messages were seen by 260,000 people, producing 2,400 likes and reactions on Facebook. This was accompanied by tweets from the Commissioner for Environment, Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Karmenu Vella, and by EU Regio Interreg.

Following a relaunch in 2017 by organisers, GWP CEE and the ICPDR, students from Bosnia-Herzegovina scooped the 2017 International Danube Art Master prize. Taking place in 12 countries, around 2000 pupils from 200 schools conveyed messages of environmental concern, hope and solidarity through artworks. The new video sub-category was popular, comprising 20% of entries.

With cleaner, healthier rivers at the heart of the event, many actions resulted in immediate enhancement of the Danube environment. In Slovakia, 36 districts undertook bank clean-ups; in Slovenia, 15,000 people cleared 8 tonnes of litter in the 'Moja reka' contest. High-level Croatian officials rolled up sleeves to assist divers in clearing rubbish above and below the waterline in Vukovar. While in Ukraine, the 'Plastic Treasures' competition saw 700kg of dumped plastic cleared and recycled.

The ICPDR would like to thank everyone involved in Danube Day 2017.

Download the full list of 2017 Danube Day Partners. Read on for national and international highlights.

National highlights in 2017

In Ukraine, a joint festival with Romania in Tyachiv emphasized basin-wide solidarity, celebration and sustainability! By providing a platform for informal discussions, it nurtured cross-border relations between ministries, agencies, communities and children. Innovative actions - the 'River Quest' challenge; 'Water Oscars' video awards; 'Plastic Treasures' rubbish clearance competition; and the unveiling of a beautiful mural of Tisza life - made sure that Danube awareness continues into the future. To find out more, watch the video of Ukraine's Danube Day and check out their Facebook page. Adding to this was the Danube Art Master contest: 35 schools entered this year's competition covering both the Tisza catchment and the Danube Delta. Also marking Danube Day in the Delta, WWF celebrated the sturgeon with a day-long festival in Vylkove.

In Moldova, activities recalled past traditions and helped forge sustainable futures. Around 1000 people attended the events, which were publicised across the country on the national news. In Djurdjulesti, Moldovan and Romanian counterparts met to facilitate cross-border cooperation. Regional customs were celebrated at folk festivals in the town centre and at its port where people also toured the facilities. Danube Day messages were spread through summer camps and lectures for Chisinau University students.

In Bulgaria, 2000 visitors enjoyed the special events in all 7 Danube provinces. Culinary delights featured at Vidin's floating feast, Kozloduy's fish festival and at the annual BBQ at Baykal's wreath ceremony and festival. Danube banks were cleared across the region including actions in Lom and Nikopol. In Ruse, Romanian experts joined Bulgarian counterparts for a scientific conference. WWF's environmental education activities inspired young sturgeon envoys at Belene's 'Danube Days' festival. Across the region, sport, music, art and the Danube rivers brought people together.

Romania's events covered all 11 Water Basin Administrations: thousands got active and inspired for cleaner rivers. State Secretary Negru joined 150 experts and stakeholders to discuss projects and visit Galati's Danube fiesta. Attracting 1000 visitors, there was something for everyone in Galati: a grand summer parade, treasure hunt, cruises, water pollution lessons, music, sport, art and rubbish clearance actions. Around 70 similar activities took place across southern Romania and a joint event was held with Ukraine (see above).

In Serbia, 20 actions in 12 towns inspired young people to take action. In Prahovo, WWF Serbia's role-play and eco games helped cultivate young sturgeon ambassadors living within fishing communities. At Zemun Quay, the Republic Directorate for Water held its annual family festival. The 'Great Belgrade Regatta' brought four days of fun on and besides the Danube in an international event that attracted people from 10 countries. In addition, students enjoying the 10th 'Save the Danube' eco camp gained valuable water management experience from national experts.

In Bosnia-Herzegovina, Ilidža students were crowned national Danube Art Masters for 'Bridge', their ingenious construction of plastic bottles and plaited bags. Traversing a Bosna tributary, the artwork emphasized both the river's role in linking people but also the pollution pressure it faces.

Croatia's 'Month of Rivers' delivered action in Vukovar, Županja, Slavonski Brod, Sisak, Zagreb and Hungarian borderlands. High-level officials rolled up sleeves to assist divers in rubbish clearance and met with water management stakeholders in Vukovar. The ministry's youth awareness roadshow launched a new book and riverside fairs celebrated the 10th year of 'Our Beautiful Sava'.

In Slovenia, thousands of people were mobilised into action. Communicating concern for the Sava and Drava rivers, young Art Masters from Zagorje, Voličina and Maribor were awarded alongside corporate and public sector winners of a 3-country Bled Water Festival stewardship contest. 15,000 people cleared 8 tonnes of rubbish in the 8th 'Moja reka' contest and 1000 pupils took on micro-plastic pollution in the 20th 'Water Detective' contest.

In Hungary, 2000 people got active at events in Barcs, Budapest and Győr. The Drava river set the stage for a joint Hungary-Croatia day: neighbouring communities shared traditions, boat trips and fish soup; while international, state, local and civil society officials discussed flood and sustainable river management. Flood education was the focus at an EUSDR workshop in Budapest and water-themed family fun on Children's Island and in the Győr Festival attracted many visitors.

Slovakia's events saw around 4,500 people celebrate their rivers in Gabčíkovo, Bratislava and Komárno. An exhilarating day at Gabčíkovo included dramatic river rescue displays, riding, climbing, and for many their first trip through the dam. Being engulfed in foam and bouncing on inflatables was a big hit, as were music and dance performances on the big stage. Cruises in Komárno and Bratislava brought 1400 residents closer to their river: views of the capital's night-scape from the water were stunning. 36 districts also undertook bank clean-up actions.

Austria embraced its rivers, with 40 organisations contributing to Danube Day. A young Slovak delegation joined 1000 children in solving action-packed eco challenges in the Vienna Stadtpark Puzzle Race. Actress Julia Cencig donned special wellies and partnered Minister Andrä Rupprechter for a group waltz. Children tried out being Environmental Officers; met European March Turtles; mixed their own water cocktails and built floodwater protection walls. Plus across Austria, 900 pupils got creative in the Danube Art Master contest. Get a flavour of the day from Danube Day Austria's video and on Facebook.

In the Czech Republic, the village of Mosty u Jablunkova's in Moravia-Silesia held an end of term 'Children's Challenge' with support from the Environment Ministry. Toddlers to teens joined in a series of river-themed puzzles, art and eco activities to win the latest ICPDR Danube goodies.

In Germany, creativity and environmental awareness were celebrated at the Danube Art Master awards at Schloss Grünau. Among the prize winners was teenager Jakob Bauch, who impressed ministry judges with his ingenious animation on pollution, and received a workshop with a professional film company as his prize. In Baden-Württemberg, the public joined ministry officials for a tour of Sigmaringen Sewage Works, a model of how effective treatment protects wildlife. Whilst in Neu Ulm, youngsters were delighted by a Donaubüro nature story-telling art workshop led by local author Claudia König.

International highlights in 2017

  • Joint Hungary - Croatia Danube Drava Festival near Barcs. International, state, local and civil society officials met to discuss cross-border flood and sustainable river management. Neighbouring communities shared traditions, music, river trips and a children's paper boat launch, as well as competing in a friendly fish soup cook-off. A visiting delegation from India accompanied ICPDR officials to find out more about river basin management in Europe.
     
  • Danube Art Master Schools Competition: 2017 saw the 14th year of this 14-country youth competition that unites children across the basin in an artistic extravaganza. Read the latest news, including who will be crowned international Danube Art Master in 2017, on Facebook.
     
  • International Workshop on Flood Protection Education in Budapest. Organised by Hungary's EUSDR Priority Area 5 coordination office and National University Public Service Faculty of Water Science, the event promoted the Flood Protection Education Network amongst universities and vocational schools in the Danube region.
     
  • Shared Ukraine - Romania Tisza celebration in Tyachiv, Zakarpattya. An all-new River Quest for school children, the first ever video Water Oscars, recycling actions and the creation of an 80m2 mural of Tisza life inspired local communities to act for their rivers. Locals and officials from Romania attended as special guests. See above and Facebook for details.
     
  • Cross-border Bulgarian - Romanian scientific conference in Ruse. Water resource issues were under discussion at the conference attended by scientists and officials from research organisations.
     
  • Slovak guests at Austria's children's festival in Vienna. A delegation of Slovak school pupils joined in Vienna's Danube Day. They presented a message of Danube solidarity to their Austrian peers and joined in the many water-themed activities in Vienna's Stadtpark.
     
  • Moldovan and Romanian counterparts met to facilitate cross-border cooperation in Djurdjulesti. Organised by the Moldovan Ministry of Regional Development and Construction as part of the Danube Connects project, the government, institution, and NGO representatives later joined in the annual festivities in the town.
     
  • Great Belgrade Regatta. The 4-day international regatta attracted 400 participants from 10 countries for fun on and besides the Danube in Serbia.

Gallery

  • Danube Day 2017 in Germany: young winners of the Danube Art Master contest in Schloss Grünau.
  • Danube Day 2017 in Germany: ministry officials and local resiodents tour the  Sigmaringen Sewage Works in Baden-Württemberg © Tübingen Regional Council
  • Danube Day 2017 in Germany: winner Jakob Bauch was crowned Danube Art Master in Bavaria
  • Danube Day 2017 in the Czech Republic: learning about rivers in Mosty u Jablunkova's 'Children's Challenge' © Veronika Matuszná
  • Danube Day 2017 in Austria: Cheering for rivers in Vienna's Stadtpark festival © Danube Day Austria
  • Danube Day 2017 in Austria: Standing up for rivers - actress Julia Cernig with Andrä Rupprechter (Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management); Ursula Zechner from the Ministry of Transportation, Innovation and Technology; and Dr Wolfgang Zerobin of the City of Vienna © Danube Day Austria
  • Danube Day 2017 in Austria: Waltzing for rivers in Vienna © Danube Day Austria
  • Danube Day 2017 in Austria: Racing for rivers in the Danube Puzzle Race in Vienna's Stadtpark © Danube Day Austria
  • Danube Day 2017 in Austria: Talking about rivers in Vienna © Danube Day Austria
  • Danube Day 2017 in Slovakia: celebrating traditions in Gabčíkovo © Vodohospodárska výstavba
  • Danube Day 2017 in Slovakia: Minister of the Environment, Laszlo Solymos, at the Gabčíkovo celebrations © Slovak Water Management Enterprise
  • Danube Day 2017 in Slovakia: Rescue demonstrations on the Danube at Gabčíkovo © Vodohospodárska výstavba
  • Danube Day 2017 in Slovakia: Kayaking virtually at the ministry festival at Gabčíkovo © Vodohospodárska výstavba
  • Danube Day 2017 in Slovakia: Travelling through Gabčíkovo dam for the first time © Vodohospodárska výstavba
  • Danube Day 2017 in Slovakia: Free boat rides in Komarno © Slovak Water Management Enterprise
  • Danube Day 2017 in Hungary: Helping to restock the Danube with sterlets at the Children's Island event in Budapest © Hungarian Ministry of Interior
  • Hungarian-Croatian Danube Day 2017 near Barcs: High-level officials from both ministries and senior ICPDR officials met to discuss flooding and sustainable river basin management  © South-Transdanubian Water Management Directorate
  • Danube Day 2017 in Hungary: Promoting the Flood Protection Education Network at an EUSDR workshop © Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
  • Danube Day 2017 in Hungary: fun activities on Children's Island in Budapest © Hungarian Ministry of Interior
  • Danube Day 2017 in Hungary: river displays at Children's Island in Budapest © Hungarian Ministry of Interior
  • Hungarian-Croatian Danube Day 2017 near Barcs: the Indian delegation visiting the ICPDR to learn about European river basin management © ICPDR
  • Danube Day 2017 in Slovenia: Pupils from Rodica Primary winning top prize for their wastewater project at the Bled Water Festival © BWF Archive
  • Danube Day 2017 in Slovenia: Scouts won first prize for their rubbish clearance campaign in the annual Moja reka competition © Mitja Sodja, foto-bohinj.com
  • Slovenian Danube Art Master entry in 2017
  • Danube Day 2017 in Croatia: Ministry and city officials get active in the Vukovar river clean-up © Grad Vukovar⁄ Miroslav Šlafhauzer
  • Danube Day 2017 in Croatia: Vukovar clean-up campaign © Grad Vukovar⁄ Miroslav Šlafhauzer
  • Croatian-Hungarian Danube Day 2017: ICPDR Executive Secretary, Ivan Zavadsky (centre) © North-Transdanubian Water Directorate
  • Danube Day 2017 in Croatia: Cleaning up above and below the water-line in Vukovar © Grad Vukovar⁄ Miroslav Šlafhauzer
  • Danube Art Master winning entry in the 2017 contest in Bosnia-Herzegovina:
  • Danube Day 2017 in Serbia: Helping to conserve sturgeon in Prahovo © WWF Serbia
  • Danube Day 2017 in Serbia: WWF engages young sturgeon ambassadors from fishing communities near Prahovo © WWF Serbia
  • Danube Day 2017 in Serbia: REady to help sturgeon at a WWF event in Prahovo © WWF Serbia
  • Danube Day 2017 in Romania: Fishing competitions were popular at events across southern Romania © WBA Jiu
  • Danube Day 2017 in Romania: Inspiring the next generation to get active for the Danube rivers © WBA Arges
  • Danube Day 2017 in Romania © WBA Arges-Vedea
  • Danube Day 2017 in Romania: Danube sport champions in Banat region © WBA Banat
  • Danube Day 2017 in Bulgaria: spreading the Danube Day message.
  • Danube Day 2017 in Bulgaria: Enough soup for everyone at the Danube Fish Cook-Off.
  • Danube Day 2017 in Bulgaria: WWF promoted sturgeon conservation at events in Bulgaria, Serbia and Ukraine © Persina Nature Park Directorate
  • Danube Day 2017 in Bulgaria: clearing rubbish in Lom and Nikopol.
  • Danube Day 2017 in Bulgaria: Conserving the 'Monsters' of the Danube © Persina Nature Park Directorate
  • Danube Day 2017 in Moldova: Celebrating Danube traditions in Djurdjulesti © Dumitru Drumea
  • Danube Day 2017 in Moldova: festivals were held in both Djurdjulesti town centre and its port © Dumitru Drumea
  • Danube Day 2017 in Moldova: Fish soup for everyone! © Dumitru Drumea
  • Danube Day 2017 in Moldova: Chisinau University students learning about Danube river basin management as part of their course © Dumitru Drumea
  • Ukrainian-Romanian Danube Day 2017 in Tyachiv: Sharing Romanian traditions at the cross-border festival © Ostap Tsapulych
  • Ukrainian-Romanian Danube Day 2017 in Tyachiv: Thinking fast to solve puzzles in the 'River Quest' challenge © Ostap Tsapulych
  • Ukrainian-Romanian Danube Day 2017 in Tyachiv: Proud winner of a Water Oscar © Ostap Tsapulych
  • Ukrainian-Romanian Danube Day 2017 in Tyachiv: unveiling of an 80m2 mural of Tisza life © Ostap Tsapulych