Kingsday 2019!

[Madi]

Our National Holiday, Kingsday, in coming up.
Each year our King Willem Alexander celebrates his birthday (April 27) in a city, and this year he is coming to Amersfoort, my hometown.

Normally, on Kingsday the festivities are music in the squares and lots of freemarkets (kids selling their toys) and everyone wears something orange, just for fun.
But this year, the preparations have already started here,

decorations on building (sponsors)

benches hanging from the trees in the park to sit on

and the chaotic traffic signs,

no parking, riding, bikes etc.


and it is not even saturday.
I am not sure if I am going downtown, to look at the activities, but if I do,
I will update with more pictures.
Or if I am at home, I can show a screenshot from my tv!

 

[faerywings]

That sounds like a lot of fun. Why the color orange? Is it a color of the royal line? What do the symbols mean?
Is it a big safety concern for your town to have him there? If it were in the US, it would be a logistical nightmare for people trying to get around with roadblocks and such.


(Sorry for all of the questions but it is fascinating to me!)

 

[veer]

King's Day always a party in the Netherlands! I think you better avoid the crowds, but then again, now it's very close for you

 

[Madi]

That sounds like a lot of fun. Why the color orange? Is it a color of the royal line? What do the symbols mean?
Is it a big safety concern for your town to have him there? If it were in the US, it would be a logistical nightmare for people trying to get around with roadblocks and such.


(Sorry for all of the questions but it is fascinating to me!)

orange, because of the name, Van Oranje, William of Orange!
in sports the dutch national teams all wear orange.


the symbols, I just checked, it is the logo of the kingsday 2019.

about safety, I think it will mostly be a nightmare for the organisers!
on the day itself you can only visit the event by foot, park and ride or by bicycle.
but it wil all be shown on tv, I think I can see it better on tv than live!
lots of streets and squares in the town centre are closed as of today, because of safety preparations, and preparations for tv.
it is a shame because we have great weather now, and all the terrasses are closed!!

 

[Madi]

King's Day always a party in the Netherlands! I think you better avoid the crowds, but then again, now it's very close for you

yes it is,
I will miss the regular freemarkets, but they will only visit our town once for this, so that is ok!

:mullet: <-- dress up in orange!!

 

[AZK]

That does sound like a lot of fun, even if you are just an observer and not actually participating.

 

[Danesa]

Oh I hope you get to go so we get more photos. Although, I guess tv shots will work also. haha I love when our town shuts down roads for festivals and special events. It feels like "the old days & things slow down" even if just for one day!

 

[Madi]

I walked part of the Royal tour of tomorrow, to see all the activity!

the first safety signs

the blockades can be closed if necessary, keep out vehicles etc.
on the small picture you can see the workman setting up activites
and on the other small picture you can see that the every day things, are still going on like normal!

here you can see some of the orange decorations,
and the zoo here has an activity planned for tomorrow

and this is another expo planned for the visit,
some artists are building something, I do not know what it will be.

weather forecast for tomorrow is rain, storm, so I will probably watch some tv and show you some more pictures!

 

[Danesa]

Oh my gosh. I love that palette tree!

 

[Jeannette]

I will probably watch on television. I'll wave if I see you :wave:

 

[faerywings]

Wow!! What cool photos, thank you so much for sharing them diane!

 

[marijke]

So sorry about the bad weather for tomorrow ... Tomorrow you see only one color in the Netherlands I think .. orange ... I follow a blog of a dutch foodie ... today she shared 5 recipes for 'Koningsdag'

https://uitpaulineskeuken.nl/2019/04/5-leuke-recepten-voor-koningsdag.html

 

[Madi]

I visit that blog regularly, in search of recipes!

Our orange Tompoezen came from the Hema!

Just a few souvenirs from yesterday,
I went out to get some orange pastry.
and watched the event on TV.

here you can see the royal family at the zoo expo


and just a family picture,

taking pictures from tv did not work well!

 

[veer]

You have a beautiful and spontaneous royal couple!

 

[VickiStegall]

The palette tree is so cool!