Danube Day in Romania

Throughout June 2026, Romania celebrated Danube Day with an exceptional wealth of activities across the country, organised under the ICPDR's motto "United by Danube!" with the support of the Ministry of Environment, Waters and Forests, the National Administration "Romanian Waters" (NARW), all 11 Water Basin Administrations, and numerous local authorities — reflecting a strong national commitment to raising awareness of the Danube's ecological, economic and cultural significance. Altogether, the celebrations reached an estimated 1,400 people.

Science and cooperation at the heart of the celebration

Specialists from the Ministry of Environment, Waters and Forests, NARW, the National Institute of Hydrology and Water Management (NIHWM), and the National Meteorological Administration (NMA) came together for a dedicated workshop on ongoing Danube Basin projects, including Tethys (hazardous substance management), Danube Water Balance, DALIA Danube Lighthouse, DanubeSediment_Q2, and Danube ADAPT. The workshop underlined that only close institutional collaboration, backed by solid shared data, can tackle climate change impacts, flood risk, and pollution pressures in the basin.

Bringing the Danube to children across the country

In Bucharest, NARW and NIHWM dedicated a day to employees' children, transforming the NIHWM pavement into a chalk-drawn underwater world, while a family workshop at the "Grigore Antipa" National Museum of Natural History introduced children and parents to the Danube's geography, biodiversity and importance through play and storytelling. In Chitila, Ilfov, children from the "Media 10" Kids Club learned about the Danube's journey across Europe, watched the JDS5 "Plastic Zero" promotional video, and explored the flagship role of the sturgeon, alongside the Danube Art Master and DanubeSHIP initiatives.

In Giurgiu, the Argeș-Vedea Water Basin Administration ran one of the most elaborate programmes of the year: pupils from the rural Clejani Secondary School took part in a day-long riverside event at Port Giurgiu, analysing water samples with specialists from the Giurgiu Water Quality Laboratory and boarding the monitoring vessel "Sarmizegetusa" to learn about hydrometric measurement. A second event at the Hercules Costești Centre combined a Danube geography lesson with a litter-collection relay race and a T-shirt painting workshop, while further classroom sessions reached children in Călărași county and Bucharest. A Basin Committee session in Giurgiu brought together representatives from six counties to discuss water management along this stretch of the river. The Prefecture of Giurgiu County also supported a wide range of educational and cultural activities involving numerous local schools.

In Timișoara, the Banat Water Basin Administration paired eco-educational activities for kindergarten children and university students with the opening of the fourth edition of the art exhibition "The Danube – Cultural Interferences" at the Water Palace, showcasing works by twenty-nine contemporary artists and drawing wide regional press coverage.

In Orșova, the international CIVIS ERASMUS+ programme, led by the University of Bucharest, brought together students and academics for interdisciplinary field research in the Iron Gates area, including water analyses, laboratory work, and study visits to the Hidroelectrica Museum – Gura Văii, in partnership with the Iron Gates Natural Park Administration, Orșova Shipyard, Orșova City Hall, and local monitoring centres.

In Călărași, the Buzău-Ialomița Water Basin Administration organised an interactive riverside treasure hunt, where children examined sand samples for microplastics, built a food-chain model, and uncovered the hidden message "The Danube needs you!" — closing with a boat trip along the Borcea branch. The Prefecture of Călărași also hosted a wide-ranging Danube Day event on 28 June, welcoming a delegation from Bulgaria in recognition of strong cross-border cooperation.

In Galați, the Prut-Bârlad Water Basin Administration took an upstream approach with a cleanup of the Bârlad River, alongside a chalk-drawing session on the Danube riverside, supported by numerous local schools.

Along the coast, the Dobrogea-Litoral Water Basin Administration focused on raising awareness among younger and disadvantaged students in Constanța about water scarcity and climate change, while also convening a Basin Committee session with Tulcea and Constanța authorities to discuss the fourth River Basin Management Plan for the Danube, the Delta, and coastal waters.

Cultural events also marked the occasion in Cernavodă (with performances by the Mircea Eliade and Rogvaiv Groups) and in Hârșova.

All participating children received ICPDR promotional materials, including bags, drawing books, colouring pencils, and stickers.

Organisations involved include: Ministry of Environment, Waters and Forests; National Administration "Romanian Waters"; National Institute of Hydrology and Water Management; National Meteorological Administration; "Grigore Antipa" National Museum of Natural History; "Media 10" Kids Club; Argeș-Vedea, Banat, Buzău-Ialomița, Jiu, Olt, Prut-Bârlad, Dobrogea-Litoral, Someș-Tisa, Crișuri, and Mureș Water Basin Administrations; numerous Water Management Systems and Water Quality Laboratories; the Iron Gates Natural Park Administration; Orșova Shipyard and City Hall; the Hidroelectrica Museum – Gura Văii; the University of Bucharest; West University of Timișoara; and a wide network of schools, kindergartens, city halls and prefectures across Argeș-Vedea, Giurgiu, Călărași, Galați, Timișoara, Craiova, Corabia, Cernavodă and Hârșova.

🔗 Further information and news coverage: extensive coverage available via NARW's Facebook, LinkedIn and website, as well as regional media including Curatorial, Best of Timișoara, Oltenasul.ro, CVLPress, Jurnalul Olteniei, and others (full list available on request).

💬 "Through the joint efforts of the Ministry of Environment, Waters and Forests, the National Administration 'Romanian Waters', and the unwavering support of local authorities, prefectures, city halls, school inspectorates, directorates for culture, companies, NGOs, and civil society, Romania has once again reaffirmed that the Danube is far more than a vital water resource. It is a living heritage — shared by present and future generations alike — a source of life, identity, and inspiration that calls upon all of us to protect, cherish, and preserve it through strong local, regional, and international cooperation."

📷 Photos include: children discovering the Danube through games at the "Grigore Antipa" Museum (© NARW); children painting environmental messages on T-shirts at Hercules Centre (© Ana Dulică); children examining microorganisms and participating in riverside activities in Giurgiu (© Monica Dejanu); university students in Timișoara (© Banat WBA); and children playing "Sturgeon Steve's Danube Journey" in Chitila (© NARW). Free use for ICPDR publications permitted by all copyright owners.

Country Coordinators

Anca Finantu of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Forests at anca.finantu@mmediu.ro 

Florentina Costea of the National Administration ”Romanian Waters” at @email