International Danube Day

When is Danube Day celebrated?
Every year, 29 June marks Danube Day. This day is celebrated in all 14 countries of the Danube Basin - that's around 79 million people! These countries are: Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Moldova, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro.

This coincides with the signing in Sofia (Bulgaria) in 1994 of the Convention on Co-operation for the Protection and Sustainable Use of the Danube River (ICPDR).

Danube Day was celebrated for the first time in 2004, 10 years after the convention was signed.

Each year, the day is marked with a slogan. For 2024 it is "Keep the Danube Blue" and for 2021 "Discover the Danube".

Why are we celebrating Danube Day?
The 14 countries are organising various joint strategies and measures they can implement to protect this important river linking Europe from west to east. The day marks co-operation and solidarity between the countries sharing the Danube. Despite cultural differences, the day aims to emphasise a common desire, a common goal shared by all these countries: to protect the Danube.

Governmental and non-governmental organisations in these countries are taking various measures to protect the river from threats such as pollution, drought or flooding.

The day's celebrations aim to raise awareness of the importance of this European river and how it can be protected.

The Danube and art
For Romanians, this impressive river has become a source of inspiration for many poems and artistic works. In 2019, on the occasion of Danube Day, 4 postmarks have been created with the Danube theme:

The painting "The Danube at Cazane" (1930-1935) by Marius Bunescu is depicted on the 2.80 lei stamp;
The painting "Landscape on the Danube" (1934-1939) by Petre Iorgulescu Yor is on the 5 lei stamp;
painting "The Danube at Turtucaia" (1912-1916) by G. Petrașcu is represented on the 8,50 lei stamp;
painting "Landscape at Turtucaia. Danube" (1938) by Iosif Iser is on the 12 lei stamp.
Alongside these, we can also mention poems such as:

"Danube" by Nicolae Labis;
"Trajan's Bridge" by George Coșbuc;
"Danube and Oltul" by George Coșbuc;
"Pastel" by George Topîrceanu.
Fun facts about the Danube
Here are some fascinating facts about the river to share with your little ones on Danube Day:

Throughout history, the Danube has also been called Danubius, Istrus, Histru, Danare, Donaris, Phisos and Rio Divino; Napoleon Bonaparte called the Danube "the king of Europe's rivers"; it occupies about 10% of continental Europe; it is a river formed millions of years ago; it is the second longest river in Europe after the Volga; it is the river that passes through the most countries in the world (10 countries and 4 capitals);
It flows from the Black Forest Mountains in Germany into the Black Sea in Romania.