King’s Day in the Netherlands – A Sea of Orange
Every year on 27 April, the Netherlands celebrates King’s Day, or Koningsdag, the birthday of King Willem-Alexander. It is one of the most colourful and cheerful days of the year.People dress in orange, the colour associated with the Dutch Royal Family, and towns and cities are filled with flags, music, street markets and celebrations. Even people who normally never wear orange seem to find something orange for King’s Day! One of my favourite traditions is the vrijmarkt, or free market. On this day, people are allowed to sell second-hand belongings in the streets without needing the usual market permit. Children often sit on blankets selling old toys, books and clothes, while others play music or perform to earn a little pocket money.In many neighbourhoods there are also games, food stalls and activities for children. Dutch flags are everywhere, often with an orange pennant above them. In larger cities the celebrations can become very busy, with music, parties and boats packed with people dressed in orange.King’s Day is interesting because it combines a national celebration with something very informal and typically Dutch. It is not only about the Royal Family; for many people it is simply a day to go outside, meet others, browse the street markets and enjoy the atmosphere together.
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