Leave it to the Dutch to paint the town orange. On Queen’s Day, the national holiday commemorating—what else?—the Queen’s birthday, orange-clad locals pour into the streets, parks and canals, making the country look like a giant pumpkin hit it. Celebrated on April 30th (or April 29, if the 30th falls on a Sunday), this Dutch Mardi Gras draws millions of people to the streets to enjoy what the Dutch do best: trading. No surprise considering their ancestors founded the world’s most-renowned capitalist triumph: New York City.
As a nice historical twist, the holiday is actually celebrated on the late Queen Juliana’s birthday as the current monarch, Queen Beatrix, was born in late January—hardly the time to celebrate outdoors if you live anywhere in northern Europe. During the day, Dutch cities and Amsterdam in particular, transform into a large flea market, where crowds flock to buy cheap goods, ranging from old fondue pots, Mexican mariachi uniforms and polyester bell bottoms to used CDs, scuffed platform shoes and ski pants. Sounds like decades of old clutter? You betcha.
The streets are packed with activity all day: there are impromptu parades, professional and amateur concerts and theatrical displays, not to mention a variety of lively street entertainment. Much of the street entertainment is performed by children, encouraged by their parents and a history of mercantilism, to use their creativity to pull a good Euro. But adults, too, like to get in on the act. Lining the streets are “priests” offering public confessionals, artists etching erotic caricatures, and even owners offering their dogs—sporting orange, of course—for photo opportunities for passersby.
As for the national color orange, which represents Dutch lineage from the House of Orange (that of William of Orange fame), on Queen’s Day it’s absolutely excessive. There are orange flags, banners, T-shirts, wigs, hats, awnings, clothing and even orange-colored foods and drinks. Garish, loud, festive and open, orange perfectly represents the Dutch on a day when they let their hair (probably dyed or hennaed orange, too) down.
For those who haven’t visited the Netherlands before, this is the best time of year to do it. Amsterdam is the most popular destination for Queen’s Day, and a million or so estimated visitors make it here every year. Of course, that ups the competition when it comes to hotels, but plan early enough, and the reservation is yours. The point is to be there first-hand to enjoy the drinking, merry-making, winding through narrow streets or lining up along the canals, which are also thronging with spectators, to enjoy this 24-hour, open street party.
