International

The "Netherlands Military Tattoo" originally being a purely Dutch event (in Dutch it is still called "The National Tattoo"), over the years the program has become more and more international. Every year the organisation committee invites one or more bands or groups from abroad to take part in the show. This can be seen as an illustration of the commitment to and participation in the spreading of the worlds' peace and safety, and demonstrates the globalisation of mankind.

On the page "history"  an overview is given of all foreign participants since 1978. On the organisational level, a wide-spread network has been built up. The Dutch National Tattoo foundation is one of the founding members of “IATO”, the International Association of Tattoo Organizers. This is an informal association of organisers of bigger military tattoos from all over the world. Once a year they meet and exchange experiences, learn from each others' ideas, and make contacts with other bands. Of course, the members attend at each others tattoos.

The founding members of the IATO are:

• The Edinburgh Military Tattoo, Great Brittain
• The Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo, Halifax , Canada
• The Virginia International Tattoo, Norfolk, USA
• The Norwegian Military Tattoo, Oslo , Norway
• The Swedish Army Tattoo, Stockholm , Sweden
• Polizei Show Hamburg, Germany
• Militärmusikfest Berlin, Germany
• The Netherlands Military Tattoo, Rotterdam, Netherlands

Besides the above mentioned, contacts are kept with other festivals of military music:

• Basel Tattoo, Switserland
• Hamilton International Tattoo, Canada
• Hamina Tattoo, Finland
• Herning Indoor Tattoo, Herning, Denmark
• Internationale Taptoe Heerlen, Netherlands
• The Australian Federation Tattoo, Australia
• Musikschau der Nationen, Bremen, Germany
• Nice International Military Tattoo, France
• Ystad International Military Tattoo, Sweden
• Wonju Tattoo, South-Korea