The "haring en bierfeest" (herring and beer festival) is held each year on the first Saturday of June. In 2003 the major decided to close this festivity. This, cause there was a lot of fighting in the city.
The centre of the city is on the west side of the old harbour, which is a widened section of the canal (Vlaardingse vaart) which runs from Vlaardingen to the northwest. Two historical buildings in the centre are the Grote Kerk (big church) and the old city hall. The Grote Kerk was probably established between 1156 and 1164 and has been expanded, damaged and rebuilt over the centuries. To the north of the old harbour is the old windmill, which is still in operation and sells ground cereals. The harbour itself now seems to be occupied mainly by recreational and antique boats. Near the harbour is a fishing museum.
A Unilever research centre is located in Vlaardingen. There are still some ship repair business(es) in east Vlaardingen beside the Nieuwe Maas River.
History
The area around Vlaardingen was already settled by about 2900BC to 2600BC. In 1018 it was a stronghold of Count Dirk III, who defeated an army of Henry I, Holy Roman Emperor in the Battle of Vlaardingen. Vlaardingen later became a ship-building area and a significant harbour for the herring fishing industry. The fishing boats ceased to use Vlaardingen in the years after World War II.
Policing
Vlaardingen is seperated for policing in three suburbs, Centre, West and Holy.