100 things challenge - 4: Queen's Day

[birdienl]

Tomorrow, we nationally celebrate Queen's Day or Koninginnedag in The Netherlands. On this day, the Queen visits one or two cities or towns in The Netherlands with her family and is there treated to a taste of the local customs, sports- and music societies and historical details. This visit is broadcast live on television, but most other towns in The Netherlands will have their own festivities. Most notably, extensive flea markets are held and there are lots of musical performances. People often dress up in orange during this day when they go out to celebrate.

The holiday was first held on the 31th of August 1885 on the 5th birthday of Princess Wilhelmina, and was then called Princess' Day. The name was changed to Queen's Day when Wilhelmina ascended the throne. From 1949 onwards, Queen's Day was celebrated at the current date of 30 April, the birthday of Queen Juliana. Her daughter Queen Beatrix decided to keep celebrating the day at this date, as her own birthday is in January, not a really suitable month for outdoor festivities.... When her son Willem Alexander will succeed her, we will probably call the holiday King's Day, but that will take some getting used to!

Queen's Day last year: from left to right Princess Margriet, Princess Laurentien, Queen Beatrix, (behind her)
Prince Constantijn, Prince Willem Alexander and his wife Princess Maxima

Comments

[richyl88.livejournal.com]

That sure sounds like fun :)

[msantimacassar.livejournal.com]

How awesome is that! I confess I envy you all your special holidays and traditions!

[birdienl.livejournal.com]

It ís a very nice day! But doesn't your country have a lot of special days and traditions as well?

[msantimacassar.livejournal.com]

I suppose we do, now that I think about it. People in my area just don't seem to celebrate such things!

[florencia7.livejournal.com]

Countries that are still ruled by monarchies have so many more interesting traditions & holidays :)

[birdienl.livejournal.com]

Maybe you're right, but don't republics have a public holiday for the originating of their country, like 4th of July in the USA?
(I still like living in a monarchy though)

[florencia7.livejournal.com]

Well, we do have the Independence Day (on Novemeber 11th) & a couple of other holidays but somehow monarchy gives that fairy-tale touch to everything that is just totally lost if your country is "only" a republic ^^

[birdienl.livejournal.com]

I had that fairy-tale like feeling with the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton last year and also with the wedding of our own Prince Willem-Alexander and his Maxima, though that's already 10 years ago.