Vlaardingen is a city in South Holland in the Netherlands. It is located on the north bank of the Nieuwe Maas/Nieuwe Waterweg river where it connects with the Oude Maas. On the east the city is separated from Schiedam by a motorway. Other places nearby are Maassluis to the west and Delft in the north. The city has a gemeente (local government) which as of January 1, 1999 administered an area of 26.71 kmē, of which 23.76 kmē was land, with 74,058 residents (in 2004). 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. At the moment this event is called "Vlaardings Loggerfestival".