Netherlands Queens Day celebrations 2010
If you don’t like the colour orange and crowds, then 29 & 30 April, is not the best time to travel to, or to be in Amsterdam or anywhere in Netherlands!
Across Holland people are celebrating Koninginnedag, which is Dutch for Queens Day, the time everyone in Netherlands celebrates the Queens birthday, and its also day of national unity and "togetherness" for Dutch people.
During the celebrations people wear something orange and the cities are also decorated with orange balloons and banners, this is done reference to the colours of the House of Orange-Nassau, its also referred to as the Orange craze
Queens Day celebration is the premier event in Netherlands and attracts millions of people from all over Europe and the World every year.
The tradition started on 31 August 1885, on the birthday of Princess Wilhelmina, later Queen Wilhelmina. Since 1949, after the ascension of Queen Juliana, Queen's Day is Queen Juliana's birthday on 30 April. Although Queen Beatrix's birthday is on 31 January, she officially celebrates her birthday on 30 April.
The largest celebrations for Queens Day takes place in Amsterdam, every year the city is packed with locals and tourists all enjoying the festivities, the streets of Amsterdam are turned into one of the biggest street parties, with Music, dancing, and performers to rival the best carnivals worldwide.
Amsterdam hostels, Bed & Breakfast, Guesthouse and hotels accommodation are always fully booked for a long time in advance and all the restaurants, bars and cafes are packed.
No matter where you go in Holland during the Queens Day celebrations, from Amsterdam and Rotterdam, to Utrecht, Eindhoven and Edmond, orange can be seen everywhere.
Queens Day celebrations have a similar atmosphere to a carnival, with the streets packed with revellers dressed in orange and many bars and clubs organising special parties and events
If you want to join the celebrations next year be sure to book your travel and accommodation well in advance, unless if you enjoy sleeping outside.
Across Holland people are celebrating Koninginnedag, which is Dutch for Queens Day, the time everyone in Netherlands celebrates the Queens birthday, and its also day of national unity and "togetherness" for Dutch people.
During the celebrations people wear something orange and the cities are also decorated with orange balloons and banners, this is done reference to the colours of the House of Orange-Nassau, its also referred to as the Orange craze
Queens Day celebration is the premier event in Netherlands and attracts millions of people from all over Europe and the World every year.
The tradition started on 31 August 1885, on the birthday of Princess Wilhelmina, later Queen Wilhelmina. Since 1949, after the ascension of Queen Juliana, Queen's Day is Queen Juliana's birthday on 30 April. Although Queen Beatrix's birthday is on 31 January, she officially celebrates her birthday on 30 April.
The largest celebrations for Queens Day takes place in Amsterdam, every year the city is packed with locals and tourists all enjoying the festivities, the streets of Amsterdam are turned into one of the biggest street parties, with Music, dancing, and performers to rival the best carnivals worldwide.
Amsterdam hostels, Bed & Breakfast, Guesthouse and hotels accommodation are always fully booked for a long time in advance and all the restaurants, bars and cafes are packed.
No matter where you go in Holland during the Queens Day celebrations, from Amsterdam and Rotterdam, to Utrecht, Eindhoven and Edmond, orange can be seen everywhere.
Queens Day celebrations have a similar atmosphere to a carnival, with the streets packed with revellers dressed in orange and many bars and clubs organising special parties and events
If you want to join the celebrations next year be sure to book your travel and accommodation well in advance, unless if you enjoy sleeping outside.