The Netherlands Jazz Festival can justly be called the largest one in Europe. Such music diversity as offered during this three-day festival can hardly be found anyplace else. The very first festival in 1976 gathered more than 300 participants already, with the legendary Ray Charles being among them. The Hague festivals have never suffered a shortage of stars. Performing together with voices not so famous yet, they create a charming and free ambiance with lots of improvisation on and beyond the festival stages. Music varies from the traditional New Orleans jazz and swing to underground and electronic jazz, blues, gospel, funk & soul, as well as R & B and hip-hop. Moreover, all those styles go together just superbly and supplement each other. Between two concerts or on your way from one venue to another, you can drop into cinema halls, offering a special Jazz & Cinema program. Archive footage, stories and legends, present day interviews and concert recordings mingle together into a vibrant musical kaleidoscope. Black and white and full-color jazz delight on the screen not to be missed either, the same way as various photo expositions taking place at the same time as well.