Welcome to Danube Day 2023

While the 2020 and 2021 Danube Day celebrations had to accommodate COVID-19 safety restrictions by holding online events, since 2022, we have seen the return of outdoor events throughout several Danube countries! This year’s theme is “Keep the Danube Blue,” inspired by the 4th Joint Danube Survey (JDS4), one of the world’s most comprehensive surface water monitoring efforts. The findings of JDS4, first published in 2021, have been disseminated throughout the Danube River Basin to inform the public about vital data on water quality across the Danube River and its major tributaries.

The Danube Day poster design for 2023 features the motto Keep the Danube Blue”, this time against a blue background. Like every year, our signature Danube Day branded bags have been sent out to our partners throughout the Danube River Basin to distribute to the public.

Planned Activities

Austria

  • Clean up along the Danube with rubber boats
    • Boat trip on the Danube with students
    • Waste collection on the Danube
    • Learn about the Danube and the Donau-Auen National Park and to avoid waste
    • Location: Donau-Auen National Park, Fischamend - Haslau
    • Date and time: June, 19th, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
  • Programme to discover and explore the Danube in the Visitor Center of the National Park Donau-Auen
    • Primary schools from Vienna and the National Park region are invited to join the Danube Day at the Visitor Center in Schloss Orth
    • Information desks and programs: Donau-Auen National Park, via Donau, Generation Blue, Jump, Wiener Gewässer, Ramsar
    • Different programs to learn about the Danube, the animals, and how to clean the Danube
    • Location: Schloss Orth National Park Center, Schloss Orth, 2304 Orth
    • Date and time: June 20, 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.
       

Bulgaria

  • Danube Day celebration in the town of Nikopol
    • Interactive educational models, concerts, competitions, and exhibitions
    • Actions to clean the banks of the Danube and its tributaries
    • Danube Day informational campaign
    • Location: Town of Nikopol
    • Date and time: 26 June – 2 July
  • Danube Day celebration in the village of Baykal, Dolna Mitropolia municipality
    • Interactive educational models, concerts, competitions, and exhibitions,
    • Cleaning the banks of the Danube from waste
    • Danube Day informational campaign
    • Location: Village of Baykal
    • Date and time: 26 June – 2 July
  • Danube Day celebration in the town of Belene
    • Danube Day festival with interactive educational models
    • Representation of the Danube countries and traditional Bulgarian customs
    • Danube Day informational campaign
    • Location: Town of Belene
    • Date and time: June 26 –  July 2
       

Croatia

  • TBA
     

Czech Republic

  • Open Day at the Water Research Institute, Prague
    • Guided tours of Institute premises, including large-scale models of riverbeds and dams, aquariums, experimental waste-water treatment plant, etc.
    • Workshop for children with games, worksheets, art
    • Location: T. G. Masaryk Water Research Institute, Prague
    • Date and time: TBC
  • Field Visit to Křivé jezero Natural Reserve
    • Preserved natural floodplain with valuable ecosystems
    • Important bird and beaver habitat
    • Organized by the Nature Conservation Agency – steward of National Parks and Protected Areas
    • Location: Křivé jezero Natural Reserve, Pálava Protected Area, South Moravia
    • Date and time: June 3-4
       

Germany

  • Migration in the Danube Basin – cultural and natural
    • Four artists (all have been artists in residence in Regensburg with the motto “heritage today/tomorrow”)
    • Lecture from the regional water agency biologist Dr. Jörg Brandner about “Biodiversity in the Danube River.”
    • Talk with Tonka Malekovic about her installation “Compositions of Flow” and Sophia Freidhoff about migration in Regensburg from people from the Danube area.
    • Location: Regensburg, diverse locations in the town
    • Date and time: June 29, 11 a.m. - 7:30 p.m.
  • Groundbreaking ceremony: Revitalization of the Danube at Gögglingen near Ulm
    • Danube-Revitalization between km 2592+550 and 2593+200 at Ulm-Gögglingen in Baden-Württemberg.
    • Location: Ulm-Gögglingen (Exact location to be published)
    • Date and time: July 5, 1:30 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
  • Aktionsnachmittag zum Thema Donau – kids Danube activities for kids
    • Activities for children 5 years and up in cooperation with the bookstore Aegis
    • Reading of children’s book "Danube" by Michal Hvorecky
    • Location: kokoschinski Café Ulm
    • Date and time:  June 29, 3 p.m.
       

Hungary

  • Danube Day Children’s Island 
    • Large variety of activities and games organized related to Danube water, flora, and fauna
    • Children will receive a Danube Passport that will guide them in discovering all activities
    •  Special emphasis on introducing the Danube Sturgeon to the participants.
    • Location: Margaret Island  & Óbuda Island
    • Date and time: June 17
  • Danube Day Celebration by Water Management Sector
    • Celebrating words
    • Sport competitions
    • cooking competition
    • Location: Visegrád
    • Date and time: June 30
  • Györkőc Kid Festival
    • Event to draw the children’s attention to the importance of rivers through games and crafts, to deepen and strengthen the responsibility and sensitivity for waters and the environment.
    • Location: Győr
    • Date and time: July 1 – 2 
       

Moldova

  • TBA
     

Romania

  • Press releases
    • Location: Websites and mass media channels
    • Date and time: June 2023
  • Special Danube Day celebration meetings
    • Each of the 11 Water Basin Administrations will organize special meetings of the River Basin Committees dedicated to the Danube Day celebration under the slogan “Keep the Danube blue.”
    • Location: Each Water Basin Administration Level
    • Date and time: June 2023
  • Local events at the riparian Danube Water Basin Administrations levels
    • Riparian Danube Water Basin Administrations, with the support of the local authorities (county prefectures, schools, city halls, municipalities, and local NGOs), will organize local events for children and the public to raise awareness about the Danube
    • Date and time: June 2023
       

Serbia

  • Riverbank clean-up organized by Public Water Management Company “Srbijavode.”
    • It was agreed that this year's theme for the celebration would be based on ecology, raising public awareness about river conservation
    • Location:  Belgrade
    • Date and time: June 2023
  • Environmental awareness school workshops
    • Educational lectures for children in primary and secondary schools
    • Thematic workshops in kindergartens
    • Painting workshops
    • Sports games and other accompanying activities
    • Location: TBA
    • Date and time: June 2023
  • Regatta organized by Public Water Management Company “Vode Vojvodine.”
    • PWMC Vode Vojvodine aims at promoting the navigation potential of Vojvodina, navigation itself, and nautic tourism
    • Location: Along the DTD canals and Danube River on a circular route
    • Date and time: June 2023
       

Slovakia

  • Expert seminar - event outside Slovak Hydro-meteorological Institute
    • Event outside SHMÚ, presentation of the hydrological station Propeller on the Rázus embankment in BA and in Devín
    • Measurement of water quantity in the Danube, demonstration of groundwater sampling, demonstration of measurements from a boat on the Danube
    • Location: Rázus embankment in BA and Devín
    • Date and time: June 29
  • Solstice on the Danube – Slovak Environmental Agency
    • Combining activities for World Environment Day and International Danube Day - networking of community groups in the Danube Region, presentation of the activities of SEV Dropie
    • Open day, international event European Weekend of Gardens, guided excursion in the Protected Landscape Area Ostrovné lúky (Ostrovné meadows)
    • Location: Slovak Environmental Agency, Protected Landscape Area Ostrovné lúky
    • Date and time: June 23 – 24
       

Slovenia

  • TBA
     

Ukraine

  • TBA

Gallery

  • Danube Day 2018 in Persina, Bulgaria: celebrating 7 years of the WWF-ICPDR-Coca-Cola Living Danube Partnership © WWF Danube-Carpathian Programme
  • Danube Day 2018 in Serbia: getting ready to send their 'water-mail' messages of Danube solidarity to downstream countries.
  • Danube Day 2018 in Bosnia-Herzegovina: a trip to the Bosna river fosters enthusiasm for river conservation © Ekotim
  • Danube Day 2018 in Slovenia: tackling barriers to sustainable water management at the Bled Water Festival © BWF / Jaka Valjavec
  • Danube Day 2018 in Bratislava: explaining the why and how of water conservation to children at the Ministry of Environment © Ministry of the Environment
  • Danube Day 2018 in Ulm / Neu Ulm, Germany: learning about rivers with 'hands-on' and 'feet-in' exhibits at the Danube Festival! © Ute Hellstern / RPT
  • Danube Day 2017 in Germany: young Bavarian winners of the Danube Art Master contest in Schloss Grünau.
  • Danube Day 2017 in the Czech Republic: learning about rivers in Mosty u Jablunkova's 'Children's Challenge' © Veronika Matuszná
  • Danube Day 2017 in Slovakia: celebrating traditions in Gabčíkovo © Vodohospodárska výstavba
  • Danube Day 2017 in Slovenia: Pupils from Rodica school winning top prize for their wastewater project at the Bled Water Festival © BWF Archive
  • Danube Day 2017 in Romania: Inspiring the next generation to get active for the Danube rivers © WBA Arges
  • Joint Ukrainian-Hungarian Danube Day in 2016: the Zakarpattya National Chorus © Ostap Tsapulych
  • Danube Day 2016 in Moldova: festivities in Cahul.
  • Danube Day 2016 in Romania: enjoying a lesson on water science in Craiova © WBA Jiu
  • Danube Day 2016 in Slovenia: cyclists from the four Sava countries completed an epic 900 km trip to spread awareness of Danube and Sava rivers.
  • Danube Day 2016 in Hungary: Budapest children restocking the Danube with sterlets!
  • Danube Day 2016 in Slovakia: inspiring children with hands-on science at the Environment Ministry in Bratislava © Tomas Hajdin / VUVH
  • Danube Day 2016 in Austria: Working together to construct a mobile flood defence barrier at Vienna's Danube Day © Danube Day Austria
  • Danube Day 2016 in the Czech Republic: proud Moravian artists in Mosty u Jablunkova © Mostík Family Centre
  • Danube Day 2016 in Germany: Danube flag parade at the opening of the International Danube Festival in Ulm © Donaubüro Ulm/Neu-Ulm
  • Danube Day 2015 in Germany: opening ceremony in Bavaria attended by the Bavarian Environment Minister Ulrike Scharf © Bavarian Ministry of the Environment & Consumer Protection
  • Danube Day 2015 in Austria: Federal Ministers, Jörg Leichtfried (left) and Andrä Rupprechter (right), and Vienna Environment Councillor, Ulli Sima, with Viennese pupils © Danube Day Austria
  • Danube Day 2015 in Slovakia: central celebration © Vodohospodárska výstavba, š.p.
  • Danube Day 2015 in Croatia: Dražen Kurečić, 2015 ICPDR President
  • Hungary's 2015 Danube Art Master
  • Danube Day 2015 in Serbia: festivities in Odzaci
  • 2015 winner of the international Danube Art Master: Black Swan from Bosnia-Herzegovina
  • Danube Day 2015 in Romania: Collecting rubbish on the Crisul Repede © Bogdan Ghita / ABA Crisuri
  • Bulgaria's Danube Art Master 2015
  • 'Disappointed Fisherman', an entry in Moldova's 2015 Danube Art Master competition
  • Danube Day 2015 in Ukraine: dressed for a Grand Danube Masquerade
  • Danube Day 2014 in Ukraine: Kvasovo children map-out their country united by rivers © Ostap Tsapulych
  • Danube Day 2014 in Moldova: Deputy Minister Lazar Chirica awards young artists.
  • Danube Day 2014 in Bulgaria: superb spectacle at Persina Natural Park.
  • Danube Day 2014 in Romania: festivities led by Eşelnita Commune Hall & Cazanele Dunării NGO © ABA Jiu
  • Danube Art Master 2014 in Bosnia-Herzegovina: prize winner, Ena Havic, and her family © Ekotim
  • Danube Day 2014 in Slovenia: exploring water & energy in the Ministry/Coca-Cola HBC Slovenia ‘You’re My River’ contest © Moja Reka Slovenia
  • Danube Day 2014 in Hungary: Péter Kovács (State Secretary for Water) & Imre Hoffmann (Deputy State Secretary for Public Employment) at the Danube seminar in the Ministry of the Interior © Csattos Pál
  • Danube Day 2014 in Slovakia © Vodohospodárska výstavba
  • Danube Day 2014 in Austria: from right: Ivan Zavadsky (ICPDR); Doris Bures (Minister for Transport); Reinhard Mang (General Secretary of the Lebensministerium); Ulli Sima (Vienna Environment Councillor) & Karin Zipperer (Hafen Wien) © Danube Day Austria/Matthias Hombauer
  • Danube Day in Serbia
  • Danube Day 2013 in Ulm, Germany © Anna Brugger / Danube Office
  • Winning entry in the 2013 Czech Danube Art Master competition
  • Danube Day 2013 in Vienna © Danube Day Austria / Matthias Hombauer
  • Facing the Danube Challenge in Austria! © Foto Andi Bruckner www.andibruckner.com
  • Danube Day 2013 in Budapest © www.kormany.hu / Árvai Károly
  • Danube Day 2013 in Budapest © www.kormany.hu / Árvai Károly
  • Danube Day 2013 in Slovakia © Vodohospodárska výstavba
  • Slovenia's 2013 Moja reka competition
  • 2013 Danube Art Master entrants from Slovenia
  • Danube Day 2013 in Croatia © Zeleni Osijek
  • Danube Day 2014 in the Czech Republic: staff from the Water Protection Dept. say goodbye to the ‘Danube Day Fish United Flag’ as it continues its 14-year journey through the Basin.
  • Danube Day in Hungary
  • Winning entry in the 2013 international Danube Art Master competition - from Croatia
  • Danube Day 2013 in Belgrade
  • Danube Day 2013 in Bosnia-Herzegovina © Ekotim
  • Danube Day 2013 in Romania © ABA Crisuri
  • Danube Day 2013 in Romania © ABA Arges-Vedea
  • Danube Day 2013 in Baykal, Bulgaria © DRBD
  • Danube Day in Moldova
  • Danube Day in Ukraine
  • Clearing the Borzhava on Danube Day 2013 in Ukraine © Andriy Bublik / Coca-Cola Beverages
  • Danube Day in Ukraine
  • 2019 ICPDR President Kovacs at Danube Day in Hungary
  • Sava Youth Parliament at Danube Day 2019 in Slovenia
  • Joint Sava & Danube Day celebrations in Slovenia, 2021
  • Joint Sava & Danube Day celebrations in Slovenia, 2021
  • At the Aquarium Club picture exhibition in Beius County, Romania, 2021
  • Little ecologists in Beius County, Romania, 2021
  • Cleaning activity at the Black Sea, Romania, 2021
  • Danube Day 2021 Workshop, Romania
  • At the Aquarium Club picture exhibition in Beius County, Romania 2021
  • At the Aquarium Club picture exhibition in Beius County, Romania, 2021
  • Danube Day 2021 at the Duna Múzeum in Esztergom, Hungary
  • Danube Day 2021 at the Duna Múzeum in Esztergom, Hungary
  • Danube Day 2021 at the Duna Múzeum in Esztergom, Hungary
  • Danube Day 2021 at the Duna Múzeum in Esztergom, Hungary
  • Danube Day 2021 at the Duna Múzeum in Esztergom, Hungary
  • Danube Day 2021 at the Duna Múzeum in Esztergom, Hungary
  • Danube Day 2021 at the Duna Múzeum in Esztergom, Hungary
  • Danube Day 2021 at the Duna Múzeum in Esztergom, Hungary
  • Danube Day 2021 at the Duna Múzeum in Esztergom, Hungary
  • A Slovak Excursion at Donau Auen, 9 July 2021
  • A Slovak Excursion at Donau Auen, 9 July 2021
  • Danube Day 2021 conference in Lower Prut, Moldova [Photo credit: Dumitru Drumea]