On May 13, 2023, the Austrian and Slovak Embassies partnered up, opening their doors to the public for EU Open House Day. This year’s motto was Two Countries, One River, alluding to Austria’s and Slovakia’s geographical proximity in Europe. While Austria and Slovakia are separated by the Danube River in Europe, in DC they are only separated by a curb!

This year, visitors received free Manner wafers to keep their spirits up while waiting in line to enter the Embassy. They had the chance to participate in a quick quiz about Austria and Slovakia during their wait, which was of course also rewarded with prizes. Children were entertained by WOOM bikes, while adults were offered Red Bull energy drinks. Once inside, guests were greeted by traditional Austrian music as well as free Julius Meinl Coffee. They were offered free posters from a number of Austrian museums, ranging from modern and contemporary art to applied art and caricatures. For those interested in more specific topics, each Austrian state (or Bundesland) sent informational material about local attractions, culture, and geography. During the course of the day, two wine tastings were held in the Embassy’s library by KWSelection as well as two presentations on vacation and tourism opportunities in Austria. Finally, hungry visitors were able to purchase authentic Austrian strudel at the Little Austria stand.

This year’s 2,700 visitors even surpassed last year’s record-breaking Open House by over 300 visitors. Thank you to our guests for making this year’s event a success!

Copyright: ÖB Washington