It was always a matter of fascination for me,to see my favorite football stars of Dutch national team in the orange kits. Obviously the national team kits of many international teams have similar colors like of their national flags, but the colors of the Dutch flag are red, white and blue, there's no orange at all. WHY is this so?
Well, I got my answer from the two proud Dutch mouths of Simon & Egbert who’re attending the Queen’s Day in the crowd of many enthusiasts enjoying and singing. Simon had remarked that the color of orange signifies the Dutch Royal Family. The House of “Oranje-Nassau” dates back to Willem van Oranje (William of Orange). Now this color has royal roots and it symbolizes a broader pride in the country and in being Dutch.
I too got an opportunity on 30-April to see the biggest display of orange national pride on Koninginnedag ("Queen's Day"), the birthday of the Queen here in Amsterdam. There was also a big gathering of people on 29-April in late evening known as “Queen’s Night” where outdoor parties with bands and DJs played on several squares and in parks.
Unfortunately I haven’t got the chance to celebrate my “Queen’s night” event in Amsterdam but I enjoyed my time here in Utrecht. Roaming in the crowd I found two of my Spanish friends on the street side displaying the ornaments for selling. I knew from last 2 months they’d an agenda to sell it off but they haven’t got the stage and buyers but here they’re very happy that their stuff is sold off and thankfully they got some extra money to enjoy their trip to Queen’s Day in Amsterdam.
It’s the part of this occasion the “Free market” or “Vrijmarkt”. The Dutch take this opportunity to get rid their homes of useless (but potentially profitable) junk and old clothes.
Amsterdam is the home of parties. From crazy to cozy this city arranges all and well. So as now the Queen’s day too. Lot of music and lot of enthusiasts and needn’t to say but its “Orange-Affair” everywhere.Orange clothes, hats, wigs, caps, face or body paint.Orange balloons and of course orange flags. The whole inner city is closed for traffic and the streets fill with people.The atmosphere is just great. People on the boats in canals with orange outfits while singing, drinking and live DJ performances thrills your nerves.
Drinking a lot of beer requires a place to let it out. The city sets up these urinals for the gents all over town. Its common here now to see the canal traffic jam. Amsterdammers have a special talent for standing on the edge of boats without falling into the wet stuff.
One of the first things to strike you about Queens Day in Amsterdam is the amount of people that cram on to the streets of the Dutch capital for the day. There are people everywhere. The second thing you notice is that two in every three of them are wearing orange. So if you do plan on visiting the city for the festival, which I strongly recommend you do, remember that you must wear some orange, otherwise you like an odd man out in the crowd.
The entire country is colored Red, White and Blue, but especially: Orange,the national color, dancing all day long on boats that cruise the beautiful canals of Amsterdam. Major artists perform on giant stages, and on every corner hundreds of orange people are dancing the day and night on the tunes of their favorite DJ's and loads of Heinekens.
Throughout the day I enjoyed a lot. Nobody will complain that they hadn’t enjoyed the time if you ask them at the end. While approaching to the way to Centraal Station the obvious scenes of after party are visible throughout. The city got totally trashed with plastic beer cups, orange balloons and paper, junk that people tried to sell and didn't, and everything else you might imagine when a whole city throws a giant birthday party.
At the end all I want to say that if you have only one day to spare in the Netherlands, make it 30th April.
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