Queen’s Day (in Dutch ‘Koninginne- dag’) is the unique Dutch 24-hour Mardigras-like event on the 29th and 30th of April. Each year, Queen's Day draws around 750,000 visitors to Amsterdam, turning the city streets into a sea of orange; the colour of the Dutch royal house, and symbolic for this day. By far the biggest party of the year What makes Queen's Day in Amsterdam so special, is having an all day flea market (in Dutch ‘Vrijmarkt’) in almost every street combined with an everlasting across the whole city. It is by far, the biggest party of the year. Despite all this celebrating and the city being crowded beyond imagination, the often mild, not too hot, April weather, traditionally makes it a relaxed, joyful and unforgettable Queen’s Day experience.
|
|
Queen´s Day
|
 Free Daytime Open Air Parties
Kids Queen’s Day on KNSM Island - Starting at 10 am, on the KNSM Island (east of Central Station) the kids Queen’s Day parade starts, opening the festivities at the Levantkade and the Levantplein. Untill 6 PM young and old can enjoy the free market, and live music on stage. There will be dance workshops and various fun games throughout the day like; Throw Ball, a ride with a pony and wagon (full is full), Penalty Goal Shooting or a fun little boat ride through the Ertshaven (Ore harbour) of Amsterdam. You can get to the KNSM Island by taking tram 10 leaving from Leidseplein, or citybus 41 and 42 leaving from Central Station.
|
|
Read more...
|
|
Queen´s Day
|
|
 Queen´s Night (April 29th)
During the preceding 'koninginne- nacht' (Queen's Night) many bars and clubs throughout Amsterdam organize big parties. This tradition started in the city of The Hague in the early nineties when pre-Koninginnedag riots were an increasing problem. The idea of convincing the rioters that a celebration was a much better way to spend the night proved so successful, that now the event draws tens of thousands of visitors every year.
The festivities start before midnight (so technically on the 29th) and last throughout the night, though official rules state that pubs must close for an hour or so before sunrise.
|
|
Read more...
|
|
|
Queen´s Day
|
|
 The annual ‘Vrijmarkt’
Starting at 6 am, and closely following the festivities of the previous night, the street markets open. Spread over almost all districts in the city, the street markets offer excellent bargains on second-hand clothes, furniture and any trinket or treasurable trash you can imagine. The combination of street markets and stalls, live musicians and performers and the aroma of roasted satés and Vietnamese spring rolls create an extraordinary atmosphere.
|
|
Read more...
|
|
Queen´s Day
|
|
April 30th
Queen's Day was first celebrated August 31st 1889. As it was the custom to celebrate Koninginnedag on the Queen's birthday, the celebrations moved to April 30th after the coronation of the new Monarch, Queen Juliana, in 1948. On the day of her investiture, 30 April 1980, Queen Beatrix stated that she wished to continue celebrating it on April 30th, as a mark of respect for her mother, Juliana.Not sure is whether the soon to be King, Willem-Alexander will do the same. His birthday is officially on the 27th of April. The Queen The Queen's official birthday (Koninginnedag) is a National Holiday. Each year the Queen and other members of the royal family visit festivities in a different place in the Netherlands. The royal visits are always broadcasted live on the television.
|
|
Read more...
|
|
|
|
|
|
