In a move that the rest of the world should pay heed too, Netherlands has decided to offer the Dutch book readers free rail travel across the weekend as part of their annual book week celebrations. ‘Boekenweek’ is an annual celebration of Dutch Literature, held in March since 1932. A ‘book ball’ marks the beginning of this festival, which is followed with events such as book signings, debates and literary sessions across the nation.
Traditionally, a well-known author is asked to write a book as part of the ‘Boekenweek’. Copies of this book are given away during the entirety of the celebration. The Dutch state railway company has been the sponsor of this event and they have been offering free rail travel as a promotion since the last 18 years.
This is a very important step for preserving the rich heritage of books. The people have started to lose the importance of the values that a book provides. Initiatives such as these help in making the people realise the importance of a book and why they should be part of our everyday life. Books enrich a life.
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