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Koninginnedag (Queens’Day)

It’s probably the most important Dutch event. As the name says it’s day on which Queen of Netherlands celebrates her birthday. To be precise, current Queen – Queen Beatrix – birthdays is on 31st January but she celebrates them on 30th April as a tribute to her mother Queen Juliana who was born on that day (some say it’s not only about tradition but also about weather; much better at the end of April J.

The most important attributes of Queens Day are:

1. Free market (Vrijmarkt) – this is day when everyone can sell whatever he/she wants and doesn’t need to pay any taxes on that. You will see people pulling out various items on the pavement if front of their houses and putting on sale. Prices are usually very low (as the quality of most of those items) but sometimes you can find really good offer. As the day ends prices drop down and very often unsold items are being left on the street so anyone can pick them up (before local municipalities take them away)

2. Queens Night (Koninginnenach) – held in the Hague night before Queen’s Day, filled with all kind of concerts. Usually there are 5 –6 stages in different locations that present various types of music. All bars are open all night long (in contradiction to usual 1am ;-) and public transport is free.

3. Orange Craziness (oranjegekte) – the most visible part of the event. Orange refers to the name of Dutch Royal Family, The House of Orange-Nassau (Huis van Oranje-Nassau). EVERYTHING gets orange. People wear only orange clothes and accessories, hair is dyed orange as well. There are orange flags everywhere and more creative people are able to turn into orange anything (cars, doors of houses, boats, bikes and so on). Of course market follows up so you can buy all kind of orange coloured drinks and food. And one of them are sweets. And I don’t mean the “rubbish” to please kids. Incredible cakes, cookies and chocolates. All in orange or alternatively in dark blue, white and red (colours of Dutch flag). Just like in this image. Mhhmm…