Attitude of Gratitude

Queen's Day 2007

April 28th, 2008 would have been my 3 year anniversary of living in Amsterdam. I missed it by exactly one month. My move to A’dam was strategically timed two days before Queen’s Day in 2005. When I told my friends in the USA I was moving to A’dam I got all kinds of advice on living there, the best being that I should make sure and be there for Queen’s Day. Once I arrived, I understood why.

Queen’s Day, otherwise known as Koninginnedag takes place on April 30th and is the biggest party of the year for the Dutch. The city of Amsterdam which stays a pretty consistent population of 800k swells to well over 1 million people for the day, and every single person wears orange, the Dutch color. Because of the number of people, the roads close, most public transportation stops, and the streets are one big party. And the celebration is not just in A’dam but all over Holland, with each city holding its own celebration.

Historically it is a celebration of the queen’s birthday, but now it is a Dutch holiday and a reason to hold a party. It does not take place on the birthday of the current queen, Beatrix, but instead on her mother, Juliana's, birthday, whom the country appears to have dearly loved.

Ali Beatrix

And what an introduction to a new country! I expected every day to be like Queen’s Day with people milling about everywhere in great spirits, starting the night before on koninginnenacht (Queen’s Night). But alas, it only lasts for one short day. One of my Dutch friends says that there are two days a year that the Dutch are nice – New Years and Queen’s Day.

It was a great way to kick of my move to a new country, and this year I am very sad that I missed it and seeing all my friends. In my opinion, this is one of the events that people should visit within a lifetime. It gives you excellent insight into the lives of people from a country so small that has achieved so much.

My three years of Queen’s Day experiences:

Queen's Day 2007

The four musketeers in 2006

Two days after I arrived in 2005 - before I knew to wear orange

Busy A'dam Streets

And busy canals - 2007

Canal in 2006

Canal in 2005