Which Dutch city hosted the first World Gymnaestrada in 1953?

Rotterdam hosted the first World Gymnaestrada in 1953.

The inaugural event took place in the Dutch city from 15 to 19 July 1953. It brought together gymnasts from 14 federations and attracted about 5,000 participants. Unlike the Olympic Games, the World Gymnaestrada was designed as a non-competitive festival, emphasizing participation, demonstrations, group routines and international exchange rather than medals.

The event grew out of the European Gymnaestrada tradition associated with the International Gymnastics Federation, or FIG. Its name combines “gymnastics” with “estrada,” suggesting a stage or showcase. Large mass routines became one of its signatures, with hundreds or even thousands of participants performing coordinated choreography.

The World Gymnaestrada is held every four years, although its host cities have varied widely. Later editions included Zagreb in 1957, Stuttgart in 1961 and Amsterdam in 1991. Amsterdam is therefore a plausible wrong choice, but it hosted a much later edition—not the first one.