The Netherlands Queen's official birthday (Queen's Day, Koninginnedag) is celebrated each year with parties, street markets, concerts and special events for the royal family on April 30 or on April 29 if the 30th is a Sunday.
Princess Wilhelmina was born in The Hague on August 31, 1880. She was the last child of King William III and the only child to outlive him. On August 31, 1885, and on the same date each year after that public birthday celebrations were held for her. The occasion was originally known as Princess's Day (Prinsessedag) and became known as Queen's Day in 1890 after Wilhelmina became Queen.
On August 31, 1902, people in the Netherlands heard that Queen Wilhelmina had recovered from typhus and Queen's Day became a true public celebration. On September 6, 1948, Wilhelmina's daughter Juliana became queen, and from 1949 the Queen's Day celebrations were moved to April 30, her birthday.
On April 30, 1980, Beatrix, Juliana's daughter, became queen. Her birthday is on January 31, but the date of Queen's Day remained the same as a way of honoring Juliana. Hence, Queen's Day is the Queen's official birthday and the anniversary of her coronation.
Banks, post offices and many businesses are closed and opening hours in stores vary between business as usual, partial closure, or a full holiday. Public transport runs to a normal or special timetable and there are usually extra train services to take people home from large celebrations, but may have to have shortened routes to avoid the crowds. Restaurants may be shut, or open as usual or only serving special "Queen's Day" meals. Cafes and restaurants may close earlier than usual.
In many towns and cities, particularly Amsterdam, Arnhem, Utrecht and The Hague, the Queen's Day celebrations begin on the evening of April 29. There are public music performances (and a lot of informal busking) and street parties, and these carry on into the actual festivities on the day.
Many people in the Netherlands have a day off work and schools are closed on April 30. It is the only day in the year that people without licences to trade can sell things on the street. Some people set up stalls to sell second-hand goods and Queen's Day themed products in many city and town centers.
Each year, the royal family visits one or a few places on April 30. There they are entertained with displays and performances around local historic events. The members of the royal family generally join in with the games in a good natured way and greet thousands of people who turn out to see them.
There are many celebrations held througout New Zealand. Most of the Dutch cafes and restaurants make a special effort and people meet at local bars, proudly wearing orange! The consulates in Auckland and Wellington have a celebration for their local communities. In Wellington the Ambassador hosts an official lunch and a local committee organises an evening event with entertainment and Dutch food delights.
Check out the Foundation's website closer to the time and we will have a list of activities we have been advised of that you may wish to sign up for.
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